The word 共和国 (gònghéguó, meaning "republic") is formed by combining three individual characters, each contributing a core concept to create the modern political meaning. 共 (gòng) carries the idea of "together", "shared", or "common". 和 (hé) means "harmony", "peace", or "together in agreement". 国 (guó) means "state" or "nation". Thus, the term is conceptually constructed as a "state of shared harmony" or a "nation governed by common accord", which is a direct and meaningful translation for the Western concept of a republic, focusing on the collective and harmonious nature of the polity.