Chinese word

中间

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhōng jiān

Meaning

  • nounmiddle

Example

我们站在中间。wǒ men zhàn zài zhōng jiān

We are standing in the middle.

Illustration for 中间 (middle)

More examples

杯子在桌子中间。bēi zi zài zhuō zi zhōng jiān

The cup is in the middle of the table.

Core concept

The space between surrounding things, extending to the middle of an unfolding process.

Common phrases

  • 在中间zài zhōng jiān

    in the middle

  • 坐在中间zuò zài zhōng jiān

    sit in the middle

  • 放在中间fàng zài zhōng jiān

    put in the middle

Similar words

中心zhōng xīn: A central point or place that serves as the focus of several elements.
中央zhōng yāng: A designated central position in a country, group, or building.

Definition in Chinese

表示两边或多物之间的中心位置，也可指事物或过程的中间阶段。biǎo shì liǎng biān huò duō wù zhī jiān de zhōng xīn wèi zhì yě kě zhǐ shì wù huò guò chéng de zhōng jiān jiē duàn

Word origin

The compound joins 中 (zhōng, "middle") with 间 (jiān, "interval"), making a word for the inside span between boundaries.

Usage tips

  • When the surrounding words name an activity or period, this noun can describe its halfway point, so one form works for both place and progress sentences.

Other meanings

  • centernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word