USA = 美国 [měi guó]

Welcome to Mount Rushmore: a supercross rider jumps a motorbike over the presidents’ heads while a skydiver drifts in, with an American flag sketched alongside. That is 美国.

美国 (Měiguó) means “the United States.” 国 means country. 美 usually means beautiful, but here it was picked for its sound: 美国 is short for 美利坚合众国 (Měilìjiān Hézhòngguó), where 美利坚 stands for “America.”

An American is 美国人 (Měiguórén). The U.S. dollar is 美元 (měiyuán).

他是美国人。 — Tā shì Měiguórén. — He is American.

我明年去美国留学。 — Wǒ míngnián qù Měiguó liúxué. — I’m going to study in the U.S. next year.