中
in · inside · middle · mean · center
Details
Stroke Order
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
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
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