The act of joining separate things — usually countries, states, groups, or systems — into one. It is the noun for what happens when many become one.

The act of joining separate things把原本分開的東西 usually countries, states, groups, or systems——通常是國家、邦州、團體,或系統—— into one合併成一個的行為。 It is the noun for what happens when many become one它是「許多變成一個」這件事的名詞。

You meet it most often in history and politics: the unification of Germany in 1871, the unification of Italy, talk about the unification of Korea. It carries a sense of something big and official, often after a long split, and often after war or negotiation. Because of that, the word usually sounds serious and a bit formal — a newspaper word, a textbook word, not a word you use about your family.

You meet it most often in history and politics你最常在歷史和政治裡遇到它: the unification of Germany in 18711871年the unification of Germany德國統一, the unification of Italythe unification of Italy義大利統一, talk about the unification of Korea還有談到the unification of Korea韓國統一的討論。 It carries a sense of something big and official它帶著一種「大事、正式的事」的感覺, often after a long split, and often after war or negotiation通常發生在長期分裂之後,也常常是在戰爭或談判之後。 Because of that, the word usually sounds serious and a bit formal正因如此,這個字聽起來通常很嚴肅、有點正式 — a newspaper word, a textbook word, not a word you use about your family是報紙用字、課本用字,不是你會用在自己家裡的字。

But it does stretch beyond politics. Companies talk about the unification of two systems when they merge; a designer might talk about the unification of a brand's look. In that use it just means bringing scattered pieces under one roof so they match and work together.

But it does stretch beyond politics但它也延伸到政治之外。 Companies talk about the unification of two systems when they merge公司合併的時候,會談到the unification of two systems兩個系統的整合; a designer might talk about the unification of a brand's look設計師可能會談到the unification of a brand's look一個品牌外觀的統一。 In that use it just means bringing scattered pieces under one roof so they match and work together在這種用法裡,它就只是指把分散的東西整合到同一個架構下,讓它們彼此配合、一起運作。

Note that it does not always mean everyone was happy about it. A unification can be forced by the strong side, and the word itself stays neutral about that — it only says the pieces ended up as one.

Note that it does not always mean everyone was happy about it要注意,它不代表每個人都樂見其成。 A unification can be forced by the strong sideunification也可能是被較強勢的一方強迫促成的, and the word itself stays neutral about that而這個字本身對這件事保持中立 — it only says the pieces ended up as one它只是說這些部分最後變成了一個整體。

Also, English tends to use it for the process or moment of joining, not for the state of being together afterwards; for that you would say unity.

Also, English tends to use it for the process or moment of joining另外,英文傾向用這個字指「合併的過程或那一刻」, not for the state of being together afterwards不是指之後「合而為一的狀態」; for that you would say unity要說那個狀態,會用unity。