Chinese phrases

How to say China in Chinese

China in Chinese is 中国 (zhōng guó). Inside China, people often say 国内 (guó nèi), “in the country,” where English says “in China.”

中国

zhōng guó

China

中 means middle and 国 means country. Both are full tones: zhōng guó.

Ways to say China

中国
zhōng guó
Everyday
China
The name of the country, in every situation: 中国菜, Chinese food.
国内
guó nèi
Everyday
in China; domestic
People in China say 国内 for “in China” and 国外 for “abroad”: 国内航班 are domestic flights.
我们国家
wǒ men guó jiā
Everyday
our country
How people in China often talk about China with a foreigner: 我们国家很大.
中华
zhōng huá
Written
China; Chinese (in names)
In names and formal phrases, such as 中华文化, Chinese culture.
华夏
huá xià
Written
China (literary)
An old, literary name for China and its civilisation. You see it in poems, speeches and company names, rarely in conversation.

国外
guó wài
abroad
Any country that is not China: 他在国外工作.
外国人
wài guó rén
foreigner
The neutral word for a person from another country.
老外
lǎo wài
foreigner (casual)
Casual and usually friendly. You will hear people use it about you.

Thinking 国内 means “here”
For a Chinese speaker, 国内 means China, even when they live abroad. A friend in London who says 我在国内的时候 means “when I was in China.”
Reading 中 as zhòng
中 is zhōng in 中国. It is zhòng only in a few words, such as 中奖, “to win a prize.”
Saying 中华 in conversation
中华 belongs in names and formal writing. In conversation it sounds like a speech. Say 中国.

你来中国多久了？
nǐ lái zhōng guó duō jiǔ le
Liangliang: How long have you been in China?
快一年了。
kuài yì nián le
Leon: Almost a year.
还习惯吗？
hái xí guàn ma
Liangliang: Are you used to it?
早就习惯了。
zǎo jiù xí guàn le
Leon: I got used to it long ago.