両国

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 両国, read りょうこく, refers to both of the two countries under discussion.
• Basic usage: In 両国の代表が文化交流について話し合った。, representatives of the two countries discuss cultural exchange.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The two countries in context
  • 両国の代表 groups together representatives from the two countries. As in the river example, the surrounding context identifies which two; 両国 itself does not name them.