比如: 我遇到一个词 national unification, 民族统一。我觉得national 这个词很奇怪,找专门的注释:下面是牛津的解释。
NOTE ON USAGE 用法: Country is the most usual and neutral word for a geographical area identified by a name, such as France or China *country是最普通的中性词, 指可藉France或China这样的名称加以识别的地理区域: We passed through four countries on our way to Greece. 我们在前往希腊的途中经过了四个国家. The word state emphasizes the political organization of the area under an independent government, and it can refer to the government itself *state这个词侧重指某一有独立性的政府所治理的地区的政权机构, 亦可指政府本身: the member states of the EEC 欧洲经济共同体成员国 * a one-party state 一党政权 * The State provides free education and health care. 政府实行免费教育和公费医疗制度. A state may also be a constituent part of the larger unit *state亦可能指较大单位的组成部分: There are 13 states in Malaysia. 马来西亚有十三个州. Nation also indicates a political unit and is more formal than state *nation亦指政治单位, 较state更为庄重: the United Nations 联合国 * the Association of South-East Asian Nations 东南亚国家联盟. In addition, it can suggest a community of people who share a history and language but may not have their own country or state 此外, 这个词还可指某些群体, 虽然有共同的历史和语言, 却可能没有自己的国家或政权: The Jewish nation is scattered around the world. 犹太民族散居於世界各地. Land is more formal or poetic *land较为庄重, 多见於诗中: Exiles long to return to their native land. 流亡者们渴望回到自己的祖国.
好的,我表示明白我理解nation更倾向民族这个意思了。所以,我先仔细区分country, state, nation的区别,之后再背 national unification.