民族主义与爱国主义两个术语常被等同使用。西方学理中，民族主义是近代以来对族裔文化的认同，并追求建立本民族独立统一的国家；爱国主义源于古典时代共和主义传统，是公民对宪法和国体的忠诚。有学者由此在辨析中得出贬低民族主义，褒扬爱国主义的推论。通过文献研究和定性分析对两者在中国作为合法性认同的实践进行检验：清王朝缺乏民族主义认同又未能建构起大清国爱国主义的合法性，中华民国未能完成民族主义与爱国主义的统一，中华人民共和国成立后民族主义和爱国主义高度融合。得出结论：西方学理对二者概念的区分在中国语境中也成立，但民族主义是爱国主义变种应被取而代之的推论不符合中国实践。两者各自具有价值和局限，不可偏废。

The two terms “Nationalism” and “Patriotism” have been misused usually. In western theory, nationalism comes from an ethnic and cultural identity since 18th century, which leading to the campaign for nation-building. Whereas patriotism origins from the Republicanisms of ancient Greece and Rome, so that citizens feel a loyalty to the country and Constitution. According to the dichotomy, some scholars draw a deduction that patriotism is original and good while nationalism is a bad variation of patriotism. By qualitative analysis and literature search, Reviewing nationalism and patriotism as validity identity in Chinese practice: Qing Dynasty was devoid of Chinese nationalism identity and failed to build its own patriotism. Chinese nationalism and patriotism had not been fully integrated in Republic of China. People’s Republic of China has unified nationalism and patriotism. Conclusion A: Definitions of the two terms in Chinese practice are same with that in Western theory. Conclusion B: the deduction that patriotism be better than nationalism and should take the place, is inapplicable to Chinese practice. The truth is both nationalism and patriotism has merits and demerits.