Kanji 中 - in, middle
Kanji 中 means in, middle, inside, center. Onyomi readings are チュウ (chuu) . Kunyomi readings are なか (naka).
JLPT N5Grade 1
Stroke order animation (4 strokes)
Stroke Order Diagram
Each box shows the kanji up to that stroke. Red dot indicates stroke start point.
Readings of 中
音On'yomi (音読み)
チュウ(chuu)
訓Kun'yomi (訓読み)
なか(naka)
中 in different fonts
Vocabulary with 中
| Audio | English  | Romaji | Japanese | Kana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inside | naka | 中 | なか | |
| middle school | chuugakkou | 中学校 | ちゅうがっこう |
Common words containing the kanji 中
More Information about 中
なか (naka) vs ちゅう (chū) vs じゅう (jū) — what’s the difference?
- なか (naka) = inside / in the middle of (basic word): 箱の中 (hako no naka) = inside the box; 真ん中 (mannaka)（まんなか） = the very middle.
- 〜中 (-chū) = during / in the middle of (now happening): 会議中 (kaigichū)（かいぎちゅう） = in a meeting; 午前中 (gozenchū)（ごぜんちゅう） = during the morning.
- 〜中 (-jū) = throughout / all over: 一日中 (ichinichijū)（いちにちじゅう） = all day; 日本中 (Nihonjū)（にほんじゅう） = throughout Japan.
Common words with 中 (chū/naka)
- 中心 (chūshin)（ちゅうしん）: center; core
- 中学校 (chūgakkō)（ちゅうがっこう）: junior high school
- 中国 (Chūgoku)（ちゅうごく）: China (also a region name in Japan)
- 中止 (chūshi)（ちゅうし）: cancellation; stop
- 途中 (tochū)（とちゅう）: on the way; in the middle (of a route)
- 中身／中味 (nakami)（なかみ）: contents; inside
- 背中 (senaka)（せなか）: back (of the body)
- 中毒 (chūdoku)（ちゅうどく）: poisoning; addiction
