Meaning
国会 refers to a national legislature or parliament, the governing body that makes laws in many countries. It literally means 'national meeting' or 'country assembly.' This term is commonly used to refer to legislative bodies like the U.S. Congress, the British Parliament, or similar institutions in other nations.
Usage
国会 is used in formal and political contexts when discussing legislative bodies. In mainland China, the term 全国人民代表大会 (quánguó rénmín dàibiǎo dàhuì) is used for China's legislature, while 国会 typically refers to foreign parliaments. The word is common in news, political discussions, and international affairs.
Examples
- 01美国国会通过了这项法案。.The U.S. Congress passed this bill.
- 02他当选为国会议员。.He was elected as a member of parliament.
Characters
Measure words
- 届第118届国会
Common collocations
- 国会大厦capitol building
- 国会选举congressional election
- 国会通过passed by congress/parliament
- 美国国会U.S. Congress
Origin
国会 combines 国 (country) and 会 (meeting/assembly) to form 'national assembly.' The term was adopted in modern Chinese to translate Western concepts of parliamentary democracy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.