中 meaning and stroke order
Within; among; in; middle; center; while (doing sth); during
How to write 中, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 中
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- within; among; in
- middle; center
- while (doing sth); during
- (dialect) OK; all right
- to hit (a target)
- to be struck by (a bullet, illness etc)
- to win (a prize or lottery)
How 中 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A line 丨 through the center of a box 口.
Radical: 丨 (number one), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 中
Picture a box 口 with a single line 丨 going straight through its center. The line hits the exact middle, which gives you both meanings: center (zhōng) and to hit a target (zhòng).
中 (zhōng) appears in many basic words like 中国 (Zhōngguó, China), 中午 (zhōngwǔ, noon) and 中文 (Zhōngwén, Chinese). After a noun it means "in" or "among", as in 我在学习中 (wǒ zài xuéxí zhōng), I am in the middle of studying.
Common mistake: Learners often read every 中 as first tone, but in words about hitting or winning it is fourth tone, as in 中奖 (zhòngjiǎng, to win a prize). Also write the vertical stroke last, after the box is finished.
Common words with 中
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | HSK 1 |
| 中间 | zhōngjiān | the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among | HSK 1 |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noon; midday | HSK 1 |
| 中学 | zhōngxué | middle school | HSK 1 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese language | HSK 1 |
| 中学生 | zhōngxuéshēng | middle-school student; high school student | HSK 1 |
| 其中 | qízhōng | among; in | HSK 2 |
| 中心 | zhōngxīn | center; heart; core | HSK 2 |
| 高中 | gāozhōng | senior high school (abbr. for 高級中學|高级中学[gao1 ji2 zhong1 xue2]) | HSK 2 |
| 心中 | xīnzhōng | central point; in one's thoughts | HSK 2 |
| 中年 | zhōngnián | middle age | HSK 2 |
| 中餐 | zhōngcān | lunch; Chinese meal; Chinese food | HSK 2 |
| 中级 | zhōngjí | middle level (in a hierarchy) | HSK 2 |
| 中医 | zhōngyī | traditional Chinese medical science; a doctor trained in Chinese medicine | HSK 2 |
中 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 中
Learning 中 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 中
How many strokes are in 中?
中 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 中 mean?
中 (zhōng) means within; among; in; middle; center; while (doing sth); during. A common word with it is 中国 (Zhōngguó), meaning "China".
How do you pronounce 中?
中 is pronounced zhōng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 中?
The radical of 中 is 丨, which carries the idea of "number one". Dictionaries list 中 under this radical.
Is 中 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 中 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Why is China called 中国?
中国 (Zhōngguó) literally combines 中 (middle) and 国 (country), so it is often explained as "Middle Kingdom" or "central state". Today it is simply the name for China.
What does 中 mean when people say it in conversation?
In some northern dialects, especially around Henan, 中 (zhōng) is used alone to mean "OK" or "all right". For example, someone may answer a suggestion with just 中.