JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 7

～を中心に

Center an activity or group around something

You’ll be able to say that an activity, group, or discussion is organized mainly around a central person, place, or topic.

Illustration of the scene described by With the campfire in the center, we lined up chairs together and sat down.
Read it first

たき火びを中心ちゅうしんに、みんなで椅子いすを並ならべて座すわりました。

takibi o chuushin ni, minna de isu o narabete suwarimashita.

What do you think this sentence means?

With the campfire in the center, we lined up chairs together and sat down.

Why it means that

Centered around a key element

～を中心ちゅうしんに means “centered around” or “mainly focused on.” It identifies the main person, group, place, or topic around which something is organized.

Examples

今日きょうの授業じゅぎょうは会話かいわを中心ちゅうしんに進すすめます。

kyou no jugyou wa kaiwa o chuushin ni susumemasu.

Today’s class will focus mainly on conversation.

九州きゅうしゅうを中心ちゅうしんに、雨あめが強つよく降ふっています。

kyuushuu o chuushin ni, ame ga tsuyoku futte imasu.

It is raining hard, mainly in Kyushu.

How it is built

Put the main focus first

Attach を中心ちゅうしんに to a noun. Use ～を中心ちゅうしんとした before a noun, as in 学生がくせいを中心ちゅうしんとしたグループ (“a group centered around students”).

main focus noun+を中心に+activity or group
Example

駅えきを中心ちゅうしんに、新あたらしい店みせが増ふえています。

eki o chuushin ni, atarashii mise ga fuete imasu.

New shops are increasing around the station area.

Examples

この病気びょうきは、小ちいさい子こどもを中心ちゅうしんに広ひろがっている。

kono byouki wa, chiisai kodomo o chuushin ni hirogatte iru.

This illness is spreading mainly among young children.

今いまの私わたしの生活せいかつは、仕事しごとを中心ちゅうしんに回まわっている。

ima no watashi no seikatsu wa, shigoto o chuushin ni mawatte iru.

My life right now revolves around work.

今度こんどのテストでは、漢字かんじを中心ちゅうしんに問題もんだいが出でるそうです。

kondo no tesuto de wa, kanji o chuushin ni mondai ga deru sou desu.

I hear the questions on the next test will focus mainly on kanji.

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.