How common it is
中 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhōng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
“中”这个字可以用来表示中间或在某一群体中的位置。比如，你可以用它来描述一个物品的位置或者你在班级里的排名。
zhōng zhè gè zì kě yòng lái bǎo shí zhōng jiān huò zài mǒu qún tǐ zhōng de wèi zhī 。rú guǒ ， nǐ kě yǐ yòng tā lái miáo shù yī gè wù pǐn de wèi zhī huò nǐ zài bān jí lǐ de páng ránɡ 。
"中" can be used to indicate the middle or a position among a group. For example, you can use it to describe the location of an item or your rank in class.
Context note
“中”常用于描述位置或排名。比如，你可以说‘中间的书’或者‘中间的学生’。在日常生活中，我们也会用它来表示某个事物处于某种状态之中。
zhōng chánɡ yònɡ qū huì miáo shù wèi zhī huò pánbǐnɡ 。rú guǒ ， nǐ kě yǐ shuō ‘zhōnjiānde shū ’ huò ‘zhōnjiānde xuéshēng ’ 。zài rì cháng shēnghuo lǐ ， wǒ men yě huì yònɡ tā lái bǎo shí mǒu gè wùtǐ chǔ yú zǒnɡměn zhuàngtài zhī zhōng 。
"中" is commonly used to describe positions or rankings. For example, you can say '中间的书' (the middle book) or '中间的学生' (the student in the middle). In daily life, we also use it to indicate that something is in a certain state.
5 examples
这本书在中间。
zhè běn shū zài zhōng jiān。
This book is in the middle.
他是中等生。
tā shì zhōng děng shēng。
He is an average student.
中间的花儿最漂亮。
zhōng jiān de huā ér zuì piào liang。
The flower in the middle is the most beautiful.
中餐是中国的传统饮食。
zhōng cān shì zhōng guó de chuán tǒng yǐn shí。
Chinese cuisine is China's traditional food.
中间的桌子是最大的。
zhōng jiān de zhuō zi shì zuì dà de。
The table in the middle is the largest.
5 mini stories
小明把书放在书架中间，这样看起来很整齐。
xiǎo míng bǎ shū fàng zài shū jià zhōng jiān， zhè yàng kàn qǐ lái hěn zhěng qí。
Xiaoming placed the book in the middle of the bookshelf, making it look neat.
妈妈说小华是班里的中等生。
mā ma shuō xiǎo huá shì bān lǐ de zhōng děng shēng。
Mom said Xiaohua is an average student in the class.
爸爸把菜分成两份，一份给爷爷，一份放在中间。
bà ba bǎ cài fēn chéng liǎng fèn， yí fèn gěi yé ye， yí fèn fàng zài zhōng jiān。
Dad divided the food into two portions, one for Grandpa and one in the middle.
姐姐说她最喜欢中间的那朵花。
jiě jie shuō tā zuì xǐ huan zhōng jiān de nà duǒ huā。
The sister said she liked the flower in the middle best.
老师把试卷放在讲台中间，让大家都能看到。
lǎo shī bǎ shì juàn fàng zài jiǎng tái zhōng jiān， ràng dà jiā dōu néng kàn dào。
The teacher placed the test paper in the middle of the lectern so everyone could see it.