Why do people say "the philippines" and never "the china"?

Question

some people say, its because philippines is made up of thousands of islands but how about indonesia? indonesia has more islands and i never hear anyone say "the indonesia".

Answer 1

The Phillipines is a collection of islands. China is basically 1 land mass.

Answer 2

The Philippines is an archipelago, or a country composed of islands. Its former name, which is still sometimes used, is "the Philippine Islands". Indonesia is not called "Indonesias" even though it is an archipelago because the suffix "-sia" substitutes for the "s" as a plural of a collection of land masses. E.G. Polynesia (many islands), Micronesia (tiny islands).

Answer 3

the phillipines are islands and china is not

Answer 4

the phillipine islands is the proper name

same with the united states of america

indonesia is just indonesia

Answer 5

Because China Sux!!!!

Answer 6

phillipines is plural.. phillipine islands is the singular

Answer 7

People do say "the china" if they are talking about pottery china.

For countries it's because Phillipines is plural so it needs something behind it. China is singular so does not have to have anything associtated with it.