中 means “inside, middle”

なか · naka

Also: in, mean

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

なか, うち, あたる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

チュウ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 4 strokes

The story

A banner pole planted straight through the center of a field, the oldest way to mark the middle. China named itself with it: 中国, the Middle Country.

Used in 中国 (chuugoku, China), 中学校 (chuugakkou, junior high school), and 〜の中 (naka, inside)

Words with 中

• 中学 (ちゅうがく, chuugaku): middle school

More from Compass & Position

• 後 behind
• 前 front
• 上 above
• 東 east
• 方 direction
• 外 outside
• 下 below
• 以 from
• 区 ward
• 北 north
• 所 place
• 西 west

Learn 中 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.