真ん中

• Reading: まんなか
• Romaji: mannaka
• Kanji breakdown: 真 (shin/ma) — true, genuine; 中 (chū/naka) — middle, inside
• Pronunciation: /maɴ.na.ka/

Meaning

Middle; center; midpoint. Refers to the exact center of something.

Combines 真 (ma, true/exact) with 中 (naka, inside/middle), emphasizing the precise center rather than a general middle area. Used for both physical positions and abstract concepts like time periods. More emphatic than 中 alone.

Examples

1. テーブルの真ん中に花をおきました。 I placed flowers in the middle of the table.
2. 道の真ん中を歩かないでください。 Please don't walk in the middle of the road.
3. 写真の真ん中に立ってください。 Please stand in the center of the photo.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, positioning, description

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 真 (ma, true/genuine) and 中 (naka, middle). The 真 prefix intensifies the meaning to indicate the exact center, not just an approximate middle position.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal