中

• 拼音: zhōng
• 汉字拆解: 中 = 口 (enclosure) + 丨 (vertical stroke through the centre) — pictograph of a flag at the centre

含义

Middle; centre; in; among. A fundamental character indicating a central position.

An extremely versatile character. As a standalone word it means 'middle' or 'centre'. It frequently appears in compounds: 中国 (China), 中文 (Chinese language), 中午 (noon), 中间 (between). Also used as a suffix meaning 'in the process of': 学习中 (in the process of studying).

例句

1. 请把书放在中间。
2. 学校在我家和公园的中间。
3. 他在考试中。

用法指南

语境: everyday, location

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 你站在中间。(You stand in the middle.)
• 我们在讨论中。(We are in the middle of a discussion.)

错误说法

• 在中的那个。(Don't use 中 alone as an adjective before 的 — say 在中间的那个)

起源与历史

A pictograph of a flagpole through the centre of a frame, representing the concept of centrality. Ancient origin tied to the idea of a banner at the centre of a community.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal