Recognize 中 in everyday Japanese and connect its meanings, inside and middle, with whole words in context.

The idea

Compare 中（なか） and 中国（ちゅうごく） in the table: a character can have different readings in different words. 中 has 4 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
中なかinside; middle
中国ちゅうごくChina
午前中ごぜんちゅうduring the morning
中学校ちゅうがっこうjunior high school

Examples

  • 箱はこの中なかに本ほんがあります。There is a book inside the box.
  • 部屋へやの中なかは静しずかです。It is quiet inside the room.
  • 水みずの中なかで魚さかなが泳およぎます。Fish swim in the water.
  • 中国ちゅうごくの料理りょうりが好すきです。I like Chinese food.
  • 午前中ごぜんちゅうに買かい物ものをします。I go shopping during the morning.
  • 中学校ちゅうがっこうは駅えきの近ちかくです。The junior high school is near the station.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

In の中, 中 is なか and means inside; in 中国 and 午前中 it is ちゅう. 午前中 refers to the morning as a time span, not a place.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 中 in 箱の中 in hiragana.

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    なか

    中 is read なか; the complete word means inside; middle.

  2. Write the reading of 中国 in hiragana.

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    ちゅうごく

    中国 is read ちゅうごく; the complete word means China.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿学校（ちゅうがっこう）.

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    中

    中 completes 中学校, read ちゅうがっこう; the complete word means junior high school.

Use it today

Cover the table and write 中 from memory. Read 中 and 中国 aloud, then make a sentence and check its meaning against the examples.