国
guó · HSK 1
country
🏛️ 国 = 囗 (border/enclosure) + 玉 (jade) — jade within borders is a nation
The outer 囗 is a boundary or walled enclosure; inside sits 玉 (jade), historically the treasure a state protects. Simplified from 國 (which held 或, a halberd-guarded territory). As a surname Guō, same character, same sound.
国 — enclosure 囗 + jade 玉
国 is a simplified form of 國. The outer 囗 represents borders or an enclosed territory, while the inner 玉 (jade) suggests a treasured realm ruled by a sovereign. The traditional 國 used 或 inside, depicting a guarded region with a weapon, later simplified by replacing it with 玉.