英文全称：The National Flag of the People's Republic of China

设计者：曾联松（1949年征集设计，从2992份投稿中脱颖而出）

比例：3:2（长：宽）

色彩规范：

• 红色（#DE291C）：象征革命与流血牺牲，取自中国革命传统色“中国红”
• 黄色五角星（#FFDE00）：象征光明与中华民族传统黄色人种

五颗星寓意：

• 大星：中国共产党
• 颗小星：工人、农民、小资产阶级、民族资产阶级
• 排列：大星居左，四小星环右，象征党领导下的人民大团结

常见错误：将“五颗星”误称为“五颗星星”（应为five stars；不可用stars复数形式单独出现时需注意语境）；“红旗”不可直译为Red Flag（易联想“赤旗”政治含义），正式场合用National Flag或Red Banner更妥。

The Maple Leaf Flag is the national flag of Canada. Adopted on February 15, 1965, it features a red field with a white square at its center, containing a stylized 11-point red maple leaf. The maple leaf has been a Canadian symbol since the 18th century, representing the country’s vast forests and natural heritage. Red and white were declared Canada’s official colors by King George V in 1921. Notably, the flag’s design was chosen over 2,000 submissions — a testament to national unity after decades of debate.

The Hinomaru (Sun Disk) is one of the oldest national flags still in use. Its design — a red circle on white — symbolizes the “Land of the Rising Sun” (Nihon/Nippon). Unlike Western flags emphasizing struggle, Japan’s flag reflects harmony (Wa) and purity. The circle has no points or corners, representing continuity and wholeness. In Japanese tradition, the sun goddess Amaterasu is the mythical ancestor of the imperial family. Fun fact: The flag’s official adoption was delayed until 1999 (Law Concerning the National Flag), despite use since the 19th century!

South Africa’s flag is the only national flag with six colors and the only one with a “Y” shape (symbolizing the convergence of diverse elements). Adopted in 1994, it replaced the old orange-white-blue tricolor. The green Y represents the people moving forward; the black triangle symbolizes the nation’s people; red, white, and blue recall pre-1994 flags to promote reconciliation. Linguistically, it’s unique: the country has 11 official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans — reflected in its flag’s inclusive design.

The Brazilian flag features a green field with a yellow diamond containing 27 stars arranged to replicate the night sky over Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889 (the day of the Republic’s proclamation). The stars include the Southern Cross (Crux), a navigational aid used since the colonial era. The national motto “Ordem e Progresso” (Order and Progress) is written in Portuguese using a cipher derived from the stars’ positions. Interestingly, the original 1889 flag had 20 stars; the current 27 reflect Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District.

Switzerland is the only country with a square national flag (all others are rectangular). Its white cross on red background dates to 1815, but the cross itself was used by Swiss mercenaries since the 14th century. The red symbolizes the blood of Christian martyrs; the white cross represents peace and neutrality. Crucially, the flag’s design is protected by law — any modification (e.g., adding text) is illegal. For English learners: Note that “Swiss” (adjective) ≠ “Switzerland” (country); correct: “Swiss flag”, incorrect: “Switzerland flag”.

• flag vs. banner：flag指悬挂式旗帜；banner多指横幅（如“World Peace Banner”）
• country vs. nation：country侧重地理；nation侧重民族（如“the Chinese nation”）
• symbol vs. sign：symbol含深层含义；sign指简单标记（如“stop sign”）

“As students, let us honor flags by understanding their meaning — for flags are not just symbols; they are promises of peace, unity, and hope.”

“The English hand-crafted flag poster is not the end — it is the beginning of a journey into the world’s cultures.”

“Next time you see a flag, remember: behind every color is a people, behind every star is a story.”

My country’s flag is the Five-Star Red Flag. It has a red background, which represents the revolutionary spirit of our people. In the top left corner, there is one large yellow star and four smaller ones. The big star stands for the Communist Party of China, and the four small stars represent the four classes of people — workers, farmers, urban petty bourgeoisie, and national bourgeoisie. Together, they show our unity under the Party’s leadership.

When I see this flag, I remember the stories my grandfather told me — how soldiers carried it across the Yangtze River in 1949, and how it first flew at the Nanmuwan Base in 1960. Today, it waves not only over our schools and parks, but also in outer space — on the Tiangong space station, where Chinese astronauts salute the national flag every morning.