中

zhōng

noun HSK 1 #126

Meanings

Depicts an arrow hitting the center of a target

Zhōngguó zài Yàzhōu de zhōngjiān.

China is in the middle of Asia.

Tā zài xué Zhōngwén.

He is studying Chinese.

history

中国 (Zhōngguó, China) literally means 'Middle Kingdom' — ancient Chinese believed their civilization was at the center of the world.

usage

中 also has a second pronunciation zhòng meaning 'to hit (a target)': 中奖 (zhòngjiǎng, to win a prize).

中 zhōng