中
in · inside · middle · mean · center
Details
Stroke Order
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
Component Breakdown
mouth + 丨
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
永世中立
えいせいちゅうりつ
permanent neutrality
空中楼閣
くうちゅうろうかく
castle in the air
厳正中立
げんせいちゅうりつ
strict neutrality
五里霧中
ごりむちゅう
totally at a loss; lose one's bearings; in a maze
四六時中
しろくじちゅう
around the clock; day and night
自己中心
じこちゅうしん
selfishness; egotism; egoism
十中八九
じっちゅうはっく
in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability
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
中途半端
ちゅうとはんぱ
halfway; half measures; unfinished
中肉中背
ちゅうにくちゅうぜい
medium build
二六時中
にろくじちゅう
night and day; all the time
年中行事
ねんちゅうぎょうじ
annual function; annual event
年百年中
ねんびゃくねんじゅう
throughout the year; all the year round; always
百発百中
ひゃっぱつひゃくちゅう
always hitting the bull's-eye; infallible
無我夢中
むがむちゅう
losing oneself (in); being absorbed (in); forgetting oneself
暗中飛躍
あんちゅうひやく
behind-the-scenes maneuvering; behind-the-scenes manoeuvering; secret maneuvers
局外中立
きょくがいちゅうりつ
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
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
一発必中
いっぱつひっちゅう
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
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
There is no road out of this world. Even deep in the mountains where I fled, a stag is crying.
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
If only the world could stay as it is. The tow-rope of a fisherman's small boat along the shore moves me so.
めでたさも中位なりおらが春
My New Year is about middling in its share of good fortune.
Anime & Manga
中二病でも恋がしたい!
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
A well-known work with 中 in its Japanese title.
月が導く異世界道中
TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy-
A well-known work with 中 in its Japanese title.
田中くんはいつもけだるげ
Tanaka-kun is Always Listless
A well-known work with 中 in its Japanese title.
骸骨騎士様、只今異世界へお出掛け中
Skeleton Knight in Another World
A well-known work with 中 in its Japanese title.
映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me-
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Take on Me
A well-known work with 中 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
中御門天皇
Name contains 中
Emperor Nakamikado , personal name Yasuhito, was the 114th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia中野竹子
Name contains 中
Nakano Takeko was a Japanese female warrior of the Aizu Domain, who fought and died during the Boshin War.
Wikipedia田中久重
Name contains 中
Hisashige Tanaka was a Japanese businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and rangaku scholar who was prominent during the Bakumatsu and early…
Wikipedia中山慶子
Name contains 中
Nakayama Yoshiko was a Japanese lady-in-waiting in the court of the Imperial House of Japan.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Similar Kanji
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 中 mean in Japanese?
中 means in, inside, middle, mean, center.
How do you read 中?
On'yomi: チュウ (CHUU). Kun'yomi: なか、うち、あた.る (naka, uchi, ataru).
How many strokes does 中 have?
中 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 丨 (line).
Is 中 a good kanji for a tattoo?
中 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means in, inside, middle, mean, center. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.