中

See also: 𝌆, Φ, Ф, and ቀ

中 U+4E2D, 中 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E2D ← 丬 [U+4E2C] CJK Unified Ideographs 丮 → [U+4E2E]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

中 (Kangxi radical 2, 丨+3, 4 strokes, cangjie input 中 (L), four-corner 5000₆, composition ⿻口丨)

Derived characters

• 仲, 冲, 𫩘, 𡉥, 妕, 㞲, 忡, 𢪠, 沖, 狆, 䦿, 𭤫, 肿, 𣐄, 𠁪, 𫡇, 迚, 𥄡, 种, 祌, 𫃞, 翀, 𦕏, 舯, 蚛, 衶, 𫡉, 𡨌, 訲, 鈡, 𬈅, 𫙄, 𩵵, 𬈴, 串, 忠, 𤆪, 盅, 㲴, 䆔, 馽, 𨌼, 𨵓, 𦬕, 𥫯, 𫑢, 𠀐
• 钟 (Simplified form of 鍾 and 鐘)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 79, character 3
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 73
• Dae Jaweon: page 158, character 6
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 28, character 10
• Unihan data for U+4E2D

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Chinese

simp. and trad.		中
alternative forms		𠁦 𠁧 𠁩 𠔈 𠔗

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 中
Shang		Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)			Liushutong (compiled in Ming)	Libian (compiled in Qing)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Shizhoupian script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts	Clerical script
Oracle bone script j00886 j00887 j00888 j00889 j00890 j00891 j00892 j00893 j00894 j00895 j00896 j00897 j00898 j00899 j00900 j00901 j00902 j00903 j00904 j00905 j00906 j00907 j00908 j00909 j00910 j00911 j00912 j00913 j00914 j00915 j00916 j00917 j00918 j00919 Bronze inscriptions b00634 b00635 b00636 b00637 b00638 b00639 b00640 b00641 b00642 b00643 b00644 b00645 b00646 b00647 b00648 b00649 b00650 b00651 b00652 b00653 b00654 b00655 b00656 b00657 b00658 b00659 b00660 b00661 b00662 b00663 b00664 b00665 b00666 b00667 b00668 b00669 b00670 b00671 b00672 b00673 b00674 b00675 b00676 b00677 b00678 b00679 Small seal script s00273 s00274 s00275
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (中) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
中	*tuŋ, *tuŋs
忠	*tuŋ
衷	*tuŋ, *tuŋs
忡	*tʰuŋ
浺	*tʰuŋ
盅	*tʰuŋ, *duŋ, *tjoŋ
种	*duŋ
沖	*duŋ
翀	*duŋ
仲	*duŋs

Pictogram (象形) – a flagpole. Based on archaeological evidence, the middle box has been interpreted as a drum (建鼓). This flagpole with a drum was placed in the center of a field to gather people and to detect the direction of the wind. In addition, the pronunciation of 中 (OC *tuŋ, *tuŋs) is reminiscent of the beating of a drum.

Shuowen interprets the character as a vertical stroke 丨 passing through the center of 口, indicating the center.

It has also been interpreted as an arrow in the center of a target.

Etymology

“Middle; centre” (Pronunciation 1) > “to hit the centre; to attain” (Pronunciation 2).

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *t/duŋ. Cognate with Tibetan གཞུང (gzhung, “middle, center”).

Related to:

• 衷 (OC *tuŋ, *tuŋs, “middle; inner garment; inner feelings”);
• 仲 (OC *duŋs, “second (of the brothers or months)”).

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): zhōng (zhong¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄨㄥ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): zong¹

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): җун (žun, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zung¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): zuung¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): zung¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): chûng / tûng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): zung¹ / dung⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): zung¹
• Northern Min (KCR): dé̤ng / dô̤ng
• Eastern Min (BUC): dṳ̆ng / dŏng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): tiong / tng / teng / thang

  (Teochew, Peng'im): dang¹ / dong¹

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹tson
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): zhong¹

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhōng
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄨㄥ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhong
    • Wade–Giles: chung¹
    • Yale: jūng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jong
    • Palladius: чжун (čžun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: zong¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zung
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡soŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: җун (žun, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂuŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: zung¹
    • Yale: jūng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzung¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: zung¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: zuung¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɵŋ³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: zung¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡suŋ⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chûng / tûng
    • Hakka Romanization System: zung^ˊ / dung^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: zung¹ / dung¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡suŋ²⁴/, /tuŋ²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: zung¹ / dung⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʊŋ⁴⁴/, /tʊŋ⁵³/

Note:

• chûng, zung1 - literary;
• tûng, dung4 - vernacular.

• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: zung¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡sũŋ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: dé̤ng / dô̤ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tœyŋ⁵⁴/, /tɔŋ³³/

Note:

• dé̤ng - literary;
• dô̤ng - vernacular.

• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: dṳ̆ng / dŏng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tyŋ⁵⁵/, /touŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

• dṳ̆ng - literary;
• dŏng - vernacular.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tiong
    • Tâi-lô: tiong
    • Phofsit Daibuun: diofng
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /tiɔŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /tiɔŋ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tng
    • Tâi-lô: tng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: dngf
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /tŋ̍³³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: teng
    • Tâi-lô: ting
    • Phofsit Daibuun: defng
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /tiɪŋ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: thang
    • Tâi-lô: thang
    • Phofsit Daibuun: tafng
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /tʰaŋ³³/

Note:

• Quanzhou:
  • tiong - literary;
  • tng - vernacular (limited, e.g. 中秋);
  • teng - vernacular (in place names, e.g. 田中, 湖中);
  • thang - vernacular (limited).

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: dang¹ / dong¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tang / tong
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /taŋ³³/, /toŋ³³/

Note:

• dang1 - vernacular;
• dong1 - literary.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹tson
    • MiniDict: tson^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹tson
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡soŋ⁵³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: zhong¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʈ͡ʂʊŋ³³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /t͡sən³³/

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• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 中
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/t͡suŋ²¹/
	Jinan	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/ʈ͡ʂəŋ²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/p͡fəŋ²¹/
	Xining	/ʈ͡ʂuə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/p͡fə̃n³¹/
	Ürümqi	/ʈ͡ʂuŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/t͡soŋ⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/t͡soŋ⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/t͡soŋ⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/ʈ͡ʂoŋ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/ʈ͡ʂoŋ³¹/
	Hefei	/ʈ͡ʂəŋ²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡suəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/t͡suŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/t͡sũŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/t͡soŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/t͡soŋ⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/t͡soŋ³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕoŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡sʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/t͡san¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʈ͡ʂoŋ³³/
	Xiangtan	/ʈ͡ʂən³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡suŋ⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/tuŋ⁴⁴/ ～心 /t͡suŋ⁴⁴/ ～間
	Taoyuan	/tuŋ²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/t͡soŋ⁵³/
	Nanning	/t͡suŋ⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/t͡suŋ⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/tiɔŋ⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/tyŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/tœyŋ⁵⁴/ /tœyŋ³³/ ～奬
	Shantou (Teochew)	/toŋ³³/ /taŋ³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/toŋ²³/

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• Middle Chinese: trjuwng

Rime
Character	中
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	知 (9)
Final (韻)	東 (2)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	陟弓切
Baxter	trjuwng
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʈɨuŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/ʈiuŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/ȶiuŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʈuwŋ/
Li Rong	/ȶiuŋ/
Wang Li	/ȶĭuŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/ȶi̯uŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhōng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zung1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*truŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*tuŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	中
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhōng
Middle Chinese	‹ trjuwng ›
Old Chinese	/*truŋ/
English	center
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	中
Reading #	1/2
No.	17407
Phonetic component	中
Rime group	終
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	中
Old Chinese	/*tuŋ/

Definitions

(deprecated template usage) 中

1. middle; center

   居中  ―  jūzhōng  ―  to be placed in the middle

   華中／华中  ―  Huázhōng  ―  Central China

2. medium; intermediary

   中型  ―  zhōngxíng  ―  medium-size; mid-size

   這件夾克有三個尺碼：小、中、大。 [MSC, trad.]
   这件夹克有三个尺码：小、中、大。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè jiàn jiākè yǒu sān ge chǐmǎ: xiǎo, zhōng, dà. [Pinyin]

   You can get the jacket in three sizes - small, medium and large.

3. within; among; in

   水中  ―  shuǐ zhōng  ―  in the water

   我们中间有一个15岁的女孩。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

   Wǒmen zhōngjiān yǒu yīge 15 suì de nǚhái. [Pinyin]

   A 15-year-old girl was among us.

   他在事故中受傷。 [MSC, trad.]
   他在事故中受伤。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā zài shìgù zhōng shòushāng. [Pinyin]

   He was injured in the accident.

   • 為了夢中的橄欖樹 [MSC, trad.]
     为了梦中的橄榄树 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 齊豫 (lyricist 三毛), 橄欖樹／橄榄树 (gǎnlǎnshù)

     wèiliao mèng zhōng di gǎnlǎnshù [Pinyin]

     For the sake of the olive tree in my dreams

4. while; in the process of; during; in the middle of

   發展中國家／发展中国家  ―  fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā  ―  developing countries

   網頁正在建設中。 [MSC, trad.]
   网页正在建设中。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǎngyè zhèngzài jiànshè zhōng. [Pinyin]

   The website is under construction.

5. to be fit for

   中用  ―  zhōngyòng  ―  to be useful

   中聽／中听  ―  zhōngtīng  ―  pleasant to the ear

6. heart; innermost being
7. intermediary
8. (dialectal) all right; OK
9. Short for 中國／中国 (Zhōngguó, “China; Chinese”).

   中醫／中医  ―  zhōngyī  ―  traditional Chinese medicine

   中美關係／中美关系  ―  Zhōng Měi guānxì  ―  China–United States relation

   • ^香港反送中遊行 [Cantonese, trad.]
     ^香港反送中游行 [Cantonese, simp.]

     Hoeng¹ gong² faan² sung³ zung¹ jau⁴ haang⁴ [Jyutping]

     the Hong Kong anti-extradition demonstrations (protests in Hong Kong, 2019)

10. Short for 中學／中学 (zhōngxué, “middle school”). Used only in the abbreviation of the name.

    三中  ―  Sān Zhōng  ―  No.3 Middle School

11. 1st tetragram of the Taixuanjing; "the center" (𝌆)
12. A surname

Synonyms

• (China):

(deprecated template usage)

edit

• 中 (abbreviation)
• 中原 (Zhōngyuán)
• 中國／中国 (Zhōngguó)
• 中華／中华 (Zhōnghuá)
• 九州 (Jiǔzhōu) (literary)
• 唐山 (Tángshān)
• 域中 (yùzhōng) (literary, figurative)
• 天下 (tiānxià) (lofty)
• 天朝 (Tiāncháo) (historical or Internet slang)
• 契弟 (qìdì) (Internet slang, derogatory)
• 支那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete, now usually derogatory or offensive)
• 桃花石 (Táohuāshí) (obsolete)
• 猜拿 (Cāiná) (transliteration of English China)
• 神州 (Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 種花家／种花家 (Zhònghuājiā) (slang, humorous)
• 脂那 (Zhīnà) (obsolete)
• 至那 (Zhìnà) (obsolete)
• 華／华 (abbreviation)
• 華夏／华夏 (Huáxià)
• 諸夏／诸夏 (Zhūxià)
• 諸華／诸华 (Zhūhuá)
• 赤縣／赤县 (Chìxiàn) (literary)
• 赤縣神州／赤县神州 (Chìxiàn Shénzhōu) (literary)
• 震旦 (Zhèndàn) (archaic)

 

Pronunciation 2

Definitions

(deprecated template usage) 中

1. to hit the mark; to be correct; to be successful

   導彈成功擊中目標 [MSC, trad.]
   导弹成功击中目标 [MSC, simp.]

   dǎodàn chénggōng jī zhòng mùbiāo [Pinyin]

   The missile successfully hit the target.

   真讓他說中了。 [MSC, trad.]
   真让他说中了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhēn ràng tā shuō zhòng le. [Pinyin]

   He turns out to be correct.

2. to be hit by; to suffer; to be affected by

   中暑  ―  zhòngshǔ  ―  to suffer a heat stroke

   他試圖爬走時肩膀中槍了。 [MSC, trad.]
   他试图爬走时肩膀中枪了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā shìtú pá zǒu shí jiānbǎng zhòngqiāng le. [Pinyin]

   As he tried to crawl away, he was hit in the shoulder.

   他中了肺炎。  ―  Tā zhòng le fèiyán.  ―  He has contracted pneumonia.

3. to win (a prize, a lottery)

   中樂透／中乐透  ―  zhòng lètòu  ―  win a lottery

   中咗六合彩 [Cantonese]  ―  zung³ zo² luk⁶ hap⁶ coi² [Jyutping]  ―  won the lottery

Synonyms

• (Singapore Hokkien) 著 (tio̍h)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (中):

• → Japanese: 中(ちゅう) (chū); 中(じゅう) (jū)
• → Korean: 중(中) (jung)
• → Vietnamese: trung (中), trúng (中)

Others:

• → Vietnamese: đúng (“correct”)
• → Japanese: 中(チュン) (chun, “red dragon (mahjong tile)”)

(deprecated template usage)

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Japanese

Kanji

中

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: ちゅう (chū, Jōyō)^{←ちゆう (tyuu, historical)}、じゅう (jū, Jōyō ^†)^{←ぢゆう (dyuu, historical)}
• Kan-on: ちゅう (chū, Jōyō)^{←ちゆう (tyuu, historical)}、じゅう (jū, Jōyō ^†)^{←ぢゆう (dyuu, historical)}
• Kun: なか (naka, 中, Jōyō)、うち (uchi, 中)、あたる (ataru, 中たる)、あたる (ataru, 中る)
• Nanori: あたり (atari)、あつ (atsu)、あつる (atsuru)、かなえ (kanae)、かなめ (kaname)、ただし (tadashi)、とうる (tōru)、とおる (tōru)、ひとし (hitoshi)、みつる (mitsuru)、わたる (wataru)

Compounds

Compounds

Common:

• 中(ちゅう)央(おう) (chūō)
• 中(ちゅう)華(か) (chūka)
• 中(ちゅう)核(かく) (chūkaku)
• 中(ちゅう)間(かん) (chūkan)
• 中(ちゅう)継(けい) (chūkei)
• 中(ちゅう)堅(けん) (chūken)
• 中(ちゅう)元(げん) (chūgen)
• 中(ちゅう)古(こ) (chūko)
• 中(ちゅう)国(ごく) (chūgoku)
• 中(ちゅう)止(し) (chūshi)
• 中(ちゅう)傷(しょ) (chūsho)
• 中(ちゅう)心(しん) (chūshin)
• 中(ちゅう)旬(じゅん) (chūjun)
• 中(ちゅう)枢(すう) (chūsū)
• 中(ちゅう)世(せい) (chūsei)
• 中(ちゅう)性(せい) (chūsei)
• 中(ちゅう)絶(ぜつ) (chūzetsu)
• 中(ちゅう)断(だん) (chūdan)
• 中(ちゅう)途(と) (chūto)
• 中(ちゅう)東(とう) (chūtō)
• 中(ちゅう)道(どう) (chūdō)
• 中(ちゅう)毒(どく) (chūdoku)
• 中(ちゅう)年(ねん) (chūnen)
• 中(ちゅう)腹(ふく) (chūfuku)
• 中(ちゅう)立(りつ) (chūritsu)
• 中(ちゅう)流(りゅう) (chūryū)
• 中(ちゅう)和(わ) (chūwa)
• 中(なか)々(なか) (nakanaka)
• 中(なか)庭(にわ) (nakaniwa)
• 中(なか)身(め) (nakame)

• 中産(ちゅうさん)階級(かいきょう) (chūsankaikyō)
• 間(あいだ)中(じゅう) (aidajū)
• 御(おん)中(ちゅう) (onchū)
• 渦(か)中(ちゅう) (kachū)
• 海(かい)中(ちゅう) (kaichū)
• 寒(かん)中(ちゅう) (kanchū)
• 空(くう)中(ちゅう) (kūchū)
• 宮(きゅう)中(ちゅう) (kyūchū)
• 胸(きょう)中(ちゅう) (kyōchū)
• 獄(ごく)中(ちゅう) (gokuchū)
• 最(さい)中(ちゅう) (saichū)
• 背(せ)中(なか) (senaka)
• 市(し)中(ちゅう) (shichū)
• 車(しゃ)中(ちゅう) (shachū)
• 手(しゅ)中(ちゅう) (shuchū)
• 暑(しょ)中(ちゅう) (shochū)
• 集(しゅう)中(ちゅう) (shūchū)
• 掌(ちょう)中(ちゅう) (chōchū)
• 心(しん)中(じゅう) (shinjū), 心(しん)中(ちゅう) (shinchū)
• 女(じょ)中(ちゅう) (jochū)
• 陣(じん)中(ちゅう) (jinchū)
• 戦(せん)中(ちゅう) (senchū)
• 水(すい)中(ちゅう) (suichū)
• 対(たい)中(ちゅう) (taichū)
• 地(ち)中(ちゅう) (chichū)
• 的(てき)中(ちゅう) (tekichū)
• 途(と)中(ちゅう) (tochū)
• 日(にっ)中(ちゅう) (nitchū)
• 熱(ねっ)中(ちゅう) (netchū)
• 年(ねん)中(じゅう) (nenjū)

• 野(の)中(なか) (nonaka)
• 文(ぶん)中(ちゅう) (bunchū)
• 人(ひと)中(なか) (hitonaka)
• 訪(ほう)中(ちゅう) (hōchū)
• 町(まち)中(なか) (machinaka)
• 命(めい)中(ちゅう) (meichū)
• 夢(む)中(ちゅう) (muchū)
• 夜(よ)中(なか) (yonaka)
• 連(れん)中(ちゅう) (renchū)
• 受(うけ)付中(つけちゅう) (uketsuke-chū)
• 仕(し)事中(ごとちゅう) (shigoto-chū)
• 準(じゅん)備中(びちゅう) (junbi-chū)
• 営(えい)業中(ぎょうちゅう) (eigyō-chū)
• 脳(のう)卒(そっ)中(ちゅう) (nōsotchū)
• 一(ひと)晩(ばん)中(じゅう) (hitobanjū)
• 真(ま)ん中(なか) (mannaka)
• 世(よ)の中(なか) (yononaka)
• お話(はな)し中(ちゅう) (ohanashi-chū)

Uncommon:

• 中(ちゅう)韓(かん) (chūkan)
• 中(ちゅう)巻(かん) (chūkan)
• 中(ちゅう)空(くう) (chūkū), 中(なか)空(ぞら) (nakazora)
• 中(ちゅう)称(しょう) (chūshō)
• 中(ちゅう)庸(よう) (chūyō)
• 中(なか)黒(ぐろ) (nakaguro)
• 中(なか)子(ご) (nakago)
• 中(なか)仕(し) (nakashi)
• 中(なか)洲(す) (nakasu)
• お仲(なか) (onaka)
• 口(こう)中(ちゅう) (kōchū)
• 上(じょう)中(ちゅう)下(げ) (jō-chū-ge)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
中
なか Grade: 1
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 中 – see the following entry.

【なか】 [noun] 中: inside [noun] 中: middle [noun] 中: among (a group or mass) [noun] 中: during (time); amidst

(This term, 中, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
中
ちゅう Grade: 1
on'yomi

From Middle Chinese 中 (MC trjuwng).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ちゅう [chúꜜù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɨː]

Noun

中(ちゅう) • (chū) 

1. middle, medium

   大(だい)中(ちゅう)小(しょう)

   dai chū shō

   large, medium and small

2. average; neither good nor poor

   中(ちゅう)の出(で)来(き)映(ば)え

   chū no dekibae

   an average performance

3. during; being in the process of doing
4. second volume of a three volume set

Affix

中(ちゅう) • (chū) 

1. China or Chinese; Sino- (prefix)

   日(にっ)中(ちゅう)関(かん)係(けい)

   Nitchū kankei

   Sino-Japanese relations

Suffix

中(ちゅう) • (-chū) 

1. being in the process of doing

   ダウンロード中(ちゅう)

   daunrōdo-chū

   downloading; download in progress

   メンテ中(ちゅう)

   mente-chū

   currently in maintenance

   インストール中(ちゅう)

   insutōru-chū

   installing

   準備(じゅんび)中(ちゅう)

   junbichū

   currently in preparation

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
中
じゅう Grade: 1
on'yomi

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “from a later Chinese reading, sound shift, or rendaku?”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑɨː]

Suffix

中(じゅう) • (-jū) ^{←ぢゆう (-dyuu)?}

1. during, in the course of, throughout

   世(せ)界(かい)中(じゅう)

   sekaijū

   throughout the world

   体(からだ)中(じゅう)

   karadajū

   throughout the body

2. all over, everywhere

Usage notes

The distinction between じゅう (jū) and ちゅう (chū) can be somewhat confusing: じゅう (jū) means throughout, in all places, as in 一日中 (ichinichijū, “all day long”) or 体中 (karadajū, “throughout the body”), while ちゅう (chū) means within, but not everywhere, as in 授業中 (jugyōchū, “in class, during class”). Contrast “I worked on this all day long” with “I worked on this in class (but not necessarily for the entire time)”.

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
中
うち Grade: 1
kun'yomi

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) うち [ùchí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟t͡ɕi]

Alternative forms

• 内(うち) (uchi), 裡(うち) (uchi)

Noun

中(うち) • (uchi) 

1. inside

Usage notes

内 is the most common kanji for this pronunciation.

Etymology 5

Various nanori readings.

Proper noun

中(あたり) or 中(proper) • (atari or proper) [[Category:Japanese
|あたり]]

1. a surname

中(あたる) or 中(proper) • (ataru or proper) [[Category:Japanese
|あたる]]

1. a female given name

中(なかば) or 中(proper) • (nakaba or proper) [[Category:Japanese
|なかは']]

1. a surname

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
中
ちゅん Grade: 1
irregular

Borrowing from Mandarin 中 (zhōng)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɨ̃ɴ]

Noun

中(チュン) • (chun) 

1. (mahjong) red dragon (tile)

See also

• 三(さん)元(げん)牌(パイ) (sangenpai, “dragon tiles”): 白(ハク) (haku, “white dragon”), 發(ハツ) (hatsu, “green dragon”), 中(チュン) (chun, “red dragon”)

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Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 中 (MC trjuwng).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	듀ᇰ (Yale: tyùng)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[1]	가온〮ᄃᆡᆺ (Yale: kàwóntòy-s)	듀ᇰ (Yale: tyùng)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕuŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [중]

Hanja

Wikisource

中 (eumhun 가운데 중 (gaunde jung))

1. hanja form^? of 중 (“average (grade or class)”)
2. hanja form^? of 중 (“middle; medium”)
3. hanja form^? of 중 (“amongst”)
4. hanja form^? of 중 (“in the course of; during”)
5. hanja form^? of 중 (“China (in compounds or in news media)”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 공중 (空中, gongjung)
• 도중 (途中, dojung)
• 명중 (命中, myeongjung)
• 병중 (病中, byeongjung)
• 백발백중 (百發百中, baekbalbaekjung)
• 시중 (市中, sijung)
• 열중 (熱中, yeoljung)
• 적중 (的中, jeokjung)
• 중앙 (中央, jung'ang)
• 중도 (中道, jungdo)
• 중독 (中毒, jungdok)
• 중간 (中間, junggan)
• 중고 (中古, junggo)
• 중국 (中國, jungguk)
• 중계 (中繼, junggye)
• 중견 (中堅, junggyeon)
• 중학교 (中學校, junghakgyo)
• 중흥 (中興, jungheung)
• 중지 (中止, jungji)
• 중립 (中立, jungnip)
• 중년 (中年, jungnyeon)
• 중상 (中傷, jungsang)
• 중성 (中性, jungseong)
• 중심 (中心, jungsim)
• 중순 (中旬, jungsun)
• 중위 (中位, jung'wi)
• 중용 (中庸, jung'yong)
• 지중해 (地中海, jijunghae)
• 집중 (集中, jipjung)
• 해중 (海中, haejung)

Proper noun

Hanja in this term
中

中 • (Jung) (hangeul 중)

1. (in news headlines) Short for 中(중)國(국) (Jungguk, “China”).

   韓·中 관계 ― Han·Jung gwangye ― South Korea – China relations

Usage notes

In news headlines, this is usually written solely in the hanja form, even in contemporary Korean text otherwise devoid of any hanja.

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

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Old Korean

Alternative forms

• 希 (*-huy) (probably represents lenition of initial *k)

Particle

中 (*-kuy, *-huy)

1. in; at; amid (locative case marker, attested in isolation only before the eleventh century)
   • c. 690, 得烏 (Deugo), “慕竹旨郞歌 (Mojukjirang-ga)”, in 三國遺事 (Samguk Yusa) [Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms]:

     蓬次叱巷中宿尸夜音

     nights where you will sleep in a village of mugwort plants

   • c. 740, 忠談師 (Chungdamsa), “讚耆婆郞歌 (Changiparang-ga)”, in 三國遺事 (Samguk Yusa) [Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms]:

     川理叱磧惡希

     by the side of the stream

   • c. 965, 均如 (Gyunyeo), “常隨彿學歌 (Sangsubulhak-ga)”, in 均如傳 (Gyunyeo-jeon) [Works of Gyunyeo]:

     命乙施好尸歲史中置

     even in the age that I cast my life away

Reconstruction notes

• Conventionally reconstructed as *-kuy because Idu manuals in Han'gul read this character as 희 (-huy), which is believed to reflect an ancient reading tradition. Middle Korean intervocalic /h/ is usually lenited from Old Korean */k/ based on internal and dialectal reconstruction. The non-lenited form also survives directly in pronouns: 이ᅌᅥ긔〮 (ìngèkúy, “here”), 뎌ᇰ어긔〮 (tyèngèkúy, “there”), etc.
• Assumed to be a logogram borrowed from Chinese, as no Chinese reading or native Korean equivalent of 中 whose phonology is even remotely similar to *kuy is known. The Chinese word often bears a locative meaning as well, and there is a certain parallel in the Vietnamese Nôm use of the same character to write the native preposition trong (“in; inside”).
• First-millennium Old Korean also featured the locative particle 良 (*-a). The two particles were compounded as 良中 (*-a-kuy) as early as the seventh century. The compounded form becomes predominant in the corpus after the eleventh century, after which 中 *-kuy in isolation is rarely encountered (although a likely Middle Korean reflex is attested in Hangul form as late as the fifteenth century). The compounded form eventually fused into a single morpheme, becoming the Middle Korean locative particle 에〮/애〮 (-éy/áy).
• At some point, perhaps even before widespread compounding, */k/ was lenited to */h/. Lenition may have begun as early as the eighth century, given the attestation of the 希 form in the poem 讚耆婆郞歌 Changiparang-ga, whose claimed date of composition is 740.
• Nam Pung-hyun suggests that 矣 (*-uy), another apparent locative particle attested in the Old Korean corpus, should be connected to 中 (*-kuy.) He classifies both as "uy-type locatives", in contrast to 良 (*-a) as an "a-type locative", and speculates that the uy-type locatives were reserved for animate beings while 良 could be used indiscriminately.

Descendants

• Old Korean: 良中 (*-akuy) (compounded with 良 (*-a))
  • Middle Korean: 에〮 (-éy)
    • Korean: 에 (-e)
• Middle Korean: 희 (-huy) (rare)

See also

• 良 (*-a) (locative case marker)
• 矣 (*-uy) (locative case marker)
• 良中 (*-akuy) (locative case marker predominant after the eleventh century)

References

• 배대은 (1996) “이두 처격조사의 통시적 고찰 [A diachronic study of locative case markers in Idu]”, in Baedalmal, volume 21, pages 139–156
• 이승재 (2000) “차자표기 자료의 격조사 연구 [Study of case markers in the Chinese-based orthography [of Korean]]”, in Gugeo Gukmunhak, volume 127, pages 107–132
• Hwang Seon-yeop (2006). "Godae gugeo-ui cheogyeok josa" 고대국어의 처격조사] ["The locative case markers of Old Korean"]. Hanmal Yeon'gu Hakhoe Jeon'guk Haksul Daehoe (conference). Seongnam, South Korea. pp. 35–48.

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Vietnamese

Han character

中: Hán Việt readings: trung (陟(trắc)弓(cung)切(thiết)), trúng
中: Nôm readings: trúng, trong, trung, truồng, đúng, truông

1. chữ Hán form of trung (“middle”).
2. chữ Hán form of Trung (“Sino-”).
3. chữ Hán form of trúng (“to hit”).
4. Nôm form of trong (“in; inside; within”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 地中海 (Địa Trung Hải)
• 中隊 (trung đội)
• 中庸 (Trung Dung)
• 中華 (Trung Hoa)
• 中圻 (Trung Kì)
• 中國 (Trung Quốc)
• 中心 (trung tâm)
• 中便 (trung tiện)
• 㗂中 (tiếng Trung)
• 中央 (trung ương)
• 越中 (Việt Trung)