The word "中国" (Zhōngguó), meaning "China", is formed conceptually through the combination of two characters: "中" (zhōng), meaning "center" or "middle", and "国" (guó), meaning "state" or "kingdom". It originates from the ancient concept of the "Central State" or "Middle Kingdom", reflecting the historical worldview that positioned the Chinese civilization as the cultural and political center of the world, surrounded by other lands. The term thus encapsulates the idea of a central, sovereign realm.