Chinese word

集中

Pronunciation

Pinyinjí zhōng

Meaning

  • verbconcentrate

Example

上课时请集中注意力。shàng kè shí qǐng jí zhōng zhù yì lì

Please concentrate in class.

Illustration for 集中 (concentrate)

More examples

学习的时候要集中注意力，不要一直看手机。xué xí de shí hòu yào jí zhōng zhù yì lì bú yào yì zhí kàn shǒu jī

When studying, focus your attention and do not keep looking at your phone.

Core concept

Attention or effort is drawn toward one central point, leaving less room for distraction.

Common phrases

  • 集中注意力jí zhōng zhù yì lì

    focus one's attention

  • 集中精力jí zhōng jīng lì

    focus one's energy

Similar words

注意zhù yì: Paying careful attention to something through looking, listening, or thinking.
专心zhuān xīn: Focusing the mind entirely on one matter and ignoring other distractions.
专注zhuān zhù: Staying closely focused on one point with little attention to anything else.
投入tóu rù: Putting time, energy, or feelings into an activity with strong involvement.

Definition in Chinese

把注意力或力量集中到某一点或某一件事上，减少分散和干扰。bǎ zhù yì lì huò lì liàng jí zhōng dào mǒu yì diǎn huò mǒu yí jiàn shì shàng jián shǎo fēn sàn hé gān rǎo

Word origin

集 (jí, "gather") + 中 (zhōng, "middle") literally describes gathering into the middle, which gives the word its sense of directing something toward one focus.

Usage tips

  • In English, this idea often sounds mainly mental, while the Chinese verb also applies to directing effort, resources, or activity toward one goal in everyday situations.

Other meanings

  • concentrationnoun
  • intensivelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word