national

national — adjective

1. describes something associated with everyone in one country, from its culture to

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes something associated with everyone in one country, from its culture to its land, instead of being limited to a single region

例句

Diya wore a traditional dress that is considered a national symbol of her homeland.

national + noun (symbol)

The national newspaper printed the story on its front page this morning.

同義詞
  • countrywide

    emphasises coverage across the entire country; slightly less formal

  • nationwide

    very similar to 'countrywide', often used for campaigns or events

  • federal

    only used for countries with a federal system, like the US or Germany; more specific and formal

反義詞
  • local

    relating to a small area such as a town or city

  • regional

    relating to a specific area within a country

  • international

    relating to multiple countries

文法句型

national + noun

用法筆記

Always placed directly before a noun. This sense contrasts with 'local' (covering a small area), 'regional' (covering several areas), and 'international' (covering multiple countries).

常見錯誤

❌The news was broadcasted on nation television.
✅The news was broadcast on national television.
💡the adjective form 'national' is needed before the noun, not the noun 'nation'.

2. describes services, organizations, or property that belong to a central governme

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes services, organizations, or property that belong to a central government and are managed or funded by it, rather than being run by local authorities or businesses

例句

The national health service provides free medical care to all residents.

national + service (government-run)

Lan works for the national railway company that operates trains across the country.

同義詞
  • state

    more common in British English for government-run services like schools and healthcare

  • federal

    used in federal countries like the US and Germany instead of 'national'

  • public

    emphasises that something belongs to or serves the whole community, though it can also refer to local government

反義詞
  • private

    owned or run by an individual or company, not the government

  • local

    run by a city or county, not the central government

文法句型

national + noun

用法筆記

Commonly paired with nouns for public services (health, education, transport) and official documents (passport, ID card). Contrasts with 'private' (run by businesses for profit) and 'local government' (run by city or county authorities).

常見錯誤

❌The school is a national school run by the city council.
✅The school is a state school run by the city council.
💡use 'state' or 'public' for local-government-run institutions; 'national' implies central government.

national — noun