The word 中间 is formed by combining two characters that each convey a core spatial concept. The first character, 中, depicts a line piercing through the center of a box or field, representing the idea of "center" or "middle". The second character, 间, is composed of a door (门) with the sun (日) visible through its gap, originally conveying "gap" or "between". Therefore, when combined, 中间 visually and conceptually synthesizes these ideas to mean the "central space between" or simply "the middle", creating a compound that defines an interior position relative to surrounding boundaries.