noun / adjective / preposition HSK 1
middle · center · China · Chinese · in · among
Meaning
中 is one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese, meaning 'middle' or 'center'. It can refer to physical location, position in time, or abstract centrality. It's also the first character in 中国 (China), literally meaning 'Middle Kingdom'.
Usage
中 is extremely versatile and appears in countless compounds. As a standalone word, it often means 'middle' or 'center'. It commonly appears as a suffix meaning 'in the process of' (如进行中) or as part of location words. It's also used in formal contexts to mean 'China' or 'Chinese'.
Examples
- 01桌子在房间中间。.The table is in the middle of the room.
- 02我正在学习中。.I am in the process of studying.
Common collocations
- 中文Chinese language
- 中学middle school
- 其中among which, of which
- ...中...in the process of...
Antonyms
Origin
The character depicts a target pierced through the center by an arrow or a flag planted in the middle of a field, representing the concept of 'center' or 'hitting the mark'.