这与您所说的“空洞建构”相去甚远，这是理解中国本质的基础所在——理解这个国家、其团结的理念、其种族的概念、其身份认同感以及其他许多事情。

Far from being "an empty construct", as you suggest, it is fundamental to understanding the nature of China - the state, the idea of unity, the notion of race, the sense of identity and much else.

youdao

尽管中央帝国通常非常富有和人口稠密，它本质上是很脆弱的，因为新的国际贸易路线的发展可能会破坏货币基础和侵蚀国家权力。

The central state, though often very rich and very populous, was intrinsically fragile, since the development of new international trade routes could undermine the monetary base and erode state power.

youdao

我们存在于世界上，这一存在先于我们的目的，先于我们对本质的理解——那个提供我们以意义和界定的本质，它是我们在存在的基础上进行的创造。

We're in the world and exist before we know our purpose, before we understand that essence that provides meaning, that defines us. Our essence is what we make of ourselves.

youdao

Essentially what's going on here is the underlying Akkadian words, I guess, are awilum, mushkenum, and then a third category, slave.

本质上来说，这里所使用的是阿卡德的基础语言，也就是阿维鲁，穆什钦努以及属于第三级别的奴隶。

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

The matter the substance the material basis of a regime concerns its citizen body.

本质，政体的物质基础,是其公民本体最关心的。

耶鲁公开课 - 政治哲学导论课程节选

What's the key or the nature or the basis of personal identity?

什么是个人同一性的关键,本质或基础

耶鲁公开课 - 死亡课程节选