ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

middle / center / China

zhōng
4 strokes · 丨 (vertical-line radical) · HSK 1

Where 中 comes from

中 is a line drawn straight through the center of a box — a flagpole through the middle of an enclosure, hitting the exact center. It means middle, center, and 'to hit the mark'.

中 in Chinese culture

中 is how China refers to itself: 中国 means 'the Middle Kingdom' — for most of its history, China saw itself as the center of the world. 中文 is the Chinese language, 中国人 is a Chinese person. You'll use 中 constantly. As a verb (zhòng, 4th tone) it means 'to hit the target'.

Example

中国 Zhōngguó — China (the 'Middle Kingdom')

我在中国。
Wǒ zài Zhōngguó.
I am in China.

How to remember it

A line straight through the CENTER of a box — right in the MIDDLE.

中 plus 文 (language/writing) gives 中文 — Chinese. Plus 国 (country) gives 中国 — China. You're learning the language of the Middle Kingdom.

Same sound, different tones

1st zhōng
middle
3rd zhǒng
seed / kind
4th zhòng
heavy

Words unlocked by 中

心中 xīnzhōng
in one's heart
中人 zhōng rén
middle-man / go-between
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