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On'yomi
チュウ
CHUU
Kun'yomi
なか・うち・あた.る
naka / uchi / ataru

in · inside · middle · mean · center

Details

Strokes4
Frequency#11
Radicalline(1)
Old Form

Stroke Order

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Strokes4

Component Breakdown

=

mouth + 丨

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of flagpole piercing center of target. Indicates center.

Symbolism

Center, moderation, harmony. Reflects East Asian thought valuing 'middle way'.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Aiming for the mountain peak

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

暗中模索

あんちゅうもさく

groping in the dark; exploring new avenues without having any clues; groping in the dark

永世中立

えいせいちゅうりつ

permanent neutrality; permanent neutrality

空中楼閣

くうちゅうろうかく

castle in the air; castle in the air

厳正中立

げんせいちゅうりつ

strict neutrality; strict neutrality

五里霧中

ごりむちゅう

totally at a loss; lose one's bearings; in a maze; totally at a loss

四六時中

しろくじちゅう

around the clock; day and night; around the clock

自己中心

じこちゅうしん

selfishness; egotism; egoism; selfishness

十中八九

じっちゅうはっく

in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability; in 8 or 9 cases out of ten

陣中見舞

じんちゅうみまい

visiting soldiers at the front to provide comfort; visit to (gift for) persons hard at work as a sign of support; visiting soldiers at the front to provide comfort

中途半端

ちゅうとはんぱ

halfway; half measures; unfinished; halfway

中肉中背

ちゅうにくちゅうぜい

medium build; medium build

二六時中

にろくじちゅう

night and day; all the time; night and day

年中行事

ねんちゅうぎょうじ

annual function; annual event; annual function

年百年中

ねんびゃくねんじゅう

throughout the year; all the year round; always; throughout the year

百発百中

ひゃっぱつひゃくちゅう

always hitting the bull's-eye; infallible; always hitting the bull's-eye

無我夢中

むがむちゅう

losing oneself (in); being absorbed (in); forgetting oneself; losing oneself (in)

暗中飛躍

あんちゅうひやく

behind-the-scenes maneuvering; behind-the-scenes manoeuvering; secret maneuvers; behind-the-scenes maneuvering

局外中立

きょくがいちゅうりつ

neutrality; neutrality

死中求活

しちゅうきゅうかつ

finding a way out of a potentially fatal situation; seeking a way out of a desperate situation; finding a way out of a potentially fatal situation

忙中有閑

ぼうちゅうゆうかん

having free time to spare in the midst of busyness; leisure in the intervals of one's work; having free time to spare in the midst of busyness

一発必中

いっぱつひっちゅう

success on the first try (attempt); success on the first try (attempt)

獅子身中

しししんちゅう

treacherous friend; snake in one's bosom; treacherous insider; treacherous friend

中庸の徳

ちゅうようのとく

The virtue of the golden mean; The virtue of moderation and balance

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山の奥にも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる

Poem #83 from Hyakunin Isshu

皇太后宮大夫俊成Kōtaigōgū no Daibu Toshinari
12th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

世の中は つねにもがもな 渚こぐ あまの小舟の 綱手かなしも

Poem #93 from Hyakunin Isshu

鎌倉右大臣Kamakura no Udaijin
13th century

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