初中

• Pinyin: chū zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 初 = meaning beginning/junior; 中 = pictograph of an arrow hitting the centre of a target, here short for 中学 (secondary school)

Meaning

Junior high school; middle school. The first stage of secondary education, typically covering grades 7 to 9.

Short for 初级中学 (junior secondary school). In China's education system, 初中 follows 小学 (primary school) and precedes 高中 (senior high school). Students attend 初中 for three years, usually from ages 12 to 15. Common in phrases like 初中生 (junior high student) and 上初中 (to attend junior high).

Examples

1. 他今年九月就要上初中了。 He is going to start junior high school this September.
2. 我初中的时候最喜欢的科目是数学。 When I was in junior high, my favourite subject was maths.
3. 初中毕业以后，大部分学生会继续上高中。 After graduating from junior high, most students go on to senior high school.

Usage Guide

Context: education, everyday, family

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你初中在哪里上的？(Where did you go to junior high?)
• 初中三年对他的成长很重要。(The three years of junior high were very important for his growth.)

Don't Say

• 初中大学 (Don't combine 初中 with 大学 — they are different education levels; 初中 is junior high, 大学 is university)

Origin & History

Abbreviation of 初级中学, where 初级 means 'junior/elementary' and 中学 means 'secondary school,' together meaning 'junior secondary school.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal