Sudan is a country in north-east Africa, south of Egypt and west of Ethiopia. The capital is Khartoum, where the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet and become one river.

Sudan 蘇丹 is a country in north-east Africa 是東北非的一個國家, south of Egypt 在埃及南邊 and west of Ethiopia 衣索比亞西邊。The capital is Khartoum 首都是喀土穆, where the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet and become one river 藍尼羅河跟白尼羅河在那裡匯合成一條河

For a long time Sudan was the largest country in Africa by land. That changed in 2011: after decades of civil war between the mostly Muslim, Arabic-speaking north and the mostly Christian and traditional-religion south, the south voted to leave and became a separate country, South Sudan. Since then Algeria is Africa's largest country, and Sudan is third. Note that older books and dictionaries still say Sudan is the biggest — they were written before the split.

For a long time 有很長一段時間, Sudan was the largest country in Africa by land 蘇丹是非洲面積最大的國家。That changed in 2011 這在2011年改變了: after decades of civil war 經過幾十年的內戰 between the mostly Muslim, Arabic-speaking north 在多數是穆斯林、講阿拉伯語的北方 and the mostly Christian and traditional-religion south 跟多數是基督徒和傳統信仰的南方之間, the south voted to leave 南方投票決定離開 and became a separate country, South Sudan 成為一個獨立的國家，南蘇丹。Since then 從那之後, Algeria is Africa's largest country 阿爾及利亞是非洲最大的國家, and Sudan is third 蘇丹排第三。Note that 要注意 older books and dictionaries 比較舊的書和字典 still say Sudan is the biggest 還是說蘇丹是最大的 — they were written before the split 那是因為它們是在分裂之前寫的

The country has had a hard modern history: famine, long wars, the fighting in the western region of Darfur from 2003, and more war again from 2015 within the north. Oil made the conflict worse rather than better, because most of the oil fields ended up in the south while the pipelines and the port were in the north.

The country has had a hard modern history 這個國家近代的歷史很艱難: famine 飢荒, long wars 長期的戰爭, the fighting in the western region of Darfur from 2003 從2003年起西部達佛地區的戰鬥, and more war again from 2015 within the north 還有從2015年起北方內部又再度開戰。Oil made the conflict worse rather than better 石油讓衝突變得更糟而不是更好, because most of the oil fields ended up in the south 因為大部分油田最後落在南方, while the pipelines and the port were in the north 但輸油管跟港口卻在北方

In English you usually say 'the Sudan' or just 'Sudan' — the older style keeps 'the', and modern news usually drops it. Both are heard.

In English 在英文裡 you usually say 'the Sudan' or just 'Sudan' 通常會說「the Sudan」或直接說「Sudan」 — the older style keeps 'the' 比較舊的說法會保留「the」, and modern news usually drops it 而現代新聞通常會把它去掉。Both are heard 兩種說法都聽得到