Nation, Country, and State

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In casual usage, the terms “country,” “nation,” and “state” are often used as if they were synonymous; but in a more strict usage they can be distinguished:

* Country denotes a geographical area.

* Nation denotes a people who are believed to or deemed to share common customs, origins, and history.

However, the adjectives national and international also refer to matters pertaining to what are strictly states, as in national capital, international law.

* State refers to the set of governing and supportive institutions that have sovereignty over a definite territory and population.

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— Wikipedia

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Country 地理國家

Nation 民族國家

State 政權國家

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— Me, Translated

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2009.01.27 Tuesday