国际
guójì · HSK 2
international
🌍 国 = country + 际 = boundary/edge; together: between countries
国 means country/nation, 际 means boundary or edge between things. Country-to-country boundaries = international. 际 also appears in 实际 (actual) and 之际 (at the moment of), always marking a juncture or edge.
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.