The word **初中 (chūzhōng)**, meaning "junior middle school," is a compound formed by combining two morphemes: **初 (chū)**, which means "beginning" or "initial," and **中 (zhōng)**, which means "middle." It is an abbreviated form derived from the full educational sequence **初级中学 (chūjí zhōngxué)**, or "primary-level middle school," and conceptually follows the stage of **小学 (xiǎoxué)**, or "elementary school," serving as the beginning or initial phase of secondary education.