Today I helped a friend by doing a briefing session on life here to some students who will come to study here in September. I came across with something interesting with the names of this country.

In Chinese, we always say 英国, but in English people have different translations. Some say the UK, some say Great Britain, and some say England. People mix the names up.

It remind me of George Mikes says in “How to be an Alien”

sometimes the British Isles - but never England.'

I had the same before I came here, so I know how to fix it up. :p

Here it is:

UK is the abbreviation for the “United Kingdom”. The United Kingdom is a country that consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In fact, the official name of the country is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." It’s more of a politcal entity.

Great Britain is the name of the island northwest of France and east of Ireland that consists of three somewhat autonomous regions: England, Wales and Scotland. It’s more of a geological entity.

England is part of Great Britain, which is part of the United Kingdom. The U.K. includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are not countries but the United Kingdom is.

I notice that in the news they use “the UK” mostly, rather than Britain, to refer to the whole country. Especially the politicians. Olivia said that there was even a campaign in the parliament to promote the use of “the UK” when Tony Blair was newly elected. In Olivia’s words, this is to be “politically correct” (大概相当于我们说的”不要出政治错误”). J

P.S: some more ref here:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/britain.html