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In my JLPT practise book, there is this question:

> その国王{こくおう}は戦{たたか}いに負{ま}け____の一部{いちぶ}を失{うしな}ってしまった。

Which I roughly translate as, "The kingdom lost a part of its ___ _ in the
battle."

The possible answers to fill the space are:

> A 領域{りょういき} (territory)
>
> B 領土{りょうど} (territory)
>
> C 占領{せんりょう} (occupation)
>
> D 領収{りょうしゅう} (receipt)

Both A and B are defined as "territory" and a lot of other overlapping words.
So, going by the kanji, I figured `領土{りょうど}` was more to do with the physical
land, and `領域{りょういき}` was more to do with the dominion. So my answer was
**A**.

The book, though, says the correct answer is **B**.

As is usually the case with JLPT questions, both _could_ work, but what makes
`領土{りょうど}` the more appropriate answer in this case?
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2011-10-30T13:08:57.740
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2011-12-28T14:23:00.560
2011-10-31T04:43:05.097
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question
word-choice jlpt
Why is 領土{りょうど} more suitable than 領域{りょういき} in this JLPT practise question?
I'm not entirely sure of the reason myself, but looking at Daijirin, Daijisen
and Space ALC:

  1. `領域`: Comprises land, sea or airspace. Can also include the extent of knowledge/experience, extent of power/authority, or extent of operation (in electronics etc.) Often refers to land in relation to international law or a given state. It seems to be used a lot in the context of entering an area, being located/existing in an area or being confined to an area. (Also has many other meanings/expressions. See the Space ALC link below for more information.) 

Sources:
[Daijirin](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=%E9%A0%98%E5%9F%9F&dtype=0&dname=0ss&stype=0)
|
[Daijisen](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/232323/m0u/%E9%A0%98%E5%9F%9F/)
| [Space ALC](http://eow.alc.co.jp/%E9%A0%98%E5%9F%9F/UTF-8/)

  2. `領土`: Primarily comprises of land (as opposed to `領海{りょうかい}` and `領空{りょうくう}`), but is broadly interchangeble with `領域` and can also more widely mean sea and airspace. Often refers to land in relation to a given state. Often seems to be used a lot in the context of conquering/gaining/losing territory, returning/ceding land etc and is used a lot more in territorial disputes (as in `領土問題`.) 

Sources:
[Daijirin](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?p=%E9%A0%98%E5%9C%9F&stype=0&dtype=0&dname=0ss)
| [Daijisen](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/232695/m0u/) | [Space
ALC](http://eow.alc.co.jp/%E9%A0%98%E5%9C%9F/UTF-8/?pg=1)
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2011-10-30T14:09:11.970
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2011-10-31T06:47:13.397
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answer
A non-academic, franc distinction is that "領域" means 'area' without particular
connotation of possession. It is normally used in mathematics like
"閉曲線Cの囲む領域の面積を求めよ" 'give the area surrounded by the closed curve C'. "領土"
specifically means 'territory land of a country' and has clear mentioning of
possession. In this case it is the best answer.
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2011-10-31T22:45:20.593
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2011-12-28T14:23:00.560
2011-12-28T14:23:00.560
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answer