Definitions
(noun)
middle; center
(preposition)
among; within; during
(noun)
China; Chinese
(verb)
to hit (the mark); to win (a prize)
Etymology
Depicts a flagpole. There is a circle in the middle marking the center of the flagpole. In older forms of the character, the flagpole has streamers at the top and bottom used to show the direction of the wind.
About
The character 中 originated as a pictograph depicting a flagpole positioned in the middle of a field, symbolizing the idea of centrality, with its structure consolidating into a form consisting of a vertical stroke passing through the center of a rectangular shape. This configuration visually reinforces its core meaning of "center" or "inside", from which its semantic range expanded to include "amidst", "medium", and the verbal sense "to hit the target", while also serving in compounds such as 中国, reflecting the historical concept of a central kingdom.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
中国是一个大国。
中午我们吃午饭。
他在学校中学习。
这本书在桌子中间。
在讨论中，他提出了新想法。
她在中国旅行时学到了很多。
在众多选择中，他选了最难的。
虽然比赛中遇到了困难，但他们没有放弃。