古代指诸侯和大夫的领地。古代诸侯的封地称“国”，大夫的封地称“家”。“国家”是“国”与“家”的合称。在古代中国，家庭、家族、国家都是依据血缘、宗法关系构建起来的，在组织结构上具有共通性。这就是所谓的“家国同构”。后演变指一国的全部疆域。近代以来，“国家”又指由一定疆域、人民和政权机构共同构成的政治实体。
Family-state referred to the land owned by feudal lords and officials in ancient China. The land of a feudal lord was called “state” and the land of an official was called “family.” In ancient China, family, clan and country shared common structural features, all founded on the basis of blood relationships. This is the so-called “commensurability of family and state.” Family-state later referred to the entire territory of a country. In modern times, the term is also used to denote a polity encompassing a territory, a people, and a government.
中华思想文化术语库
