What does 中 mean in Chinese?

中 (zhōng) means "within; among; in; middle; center; while (doing sth); during; (dialect) OK; all right" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 中?

中 is pronounced "zhōng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 中?

中 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 中?

Common words with 中 include 中亚 (Central Asia), 丁肇中 (Samuel C. C. Ting (1936-), American physicist, 1976 Nobel Prize laureate in physics), 不中意 (not to one's liking), 不中用 (unfit for anything), 中世纪 (medieval).

How do you write 中?

中 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 丨. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

中 (zhōng), within

中

zhōng

within; among; in; middle

HSK 3 New to HSK4 strokes

Character Breakdown

中 = 口 + 丨

A line through the center of a box — middle

Radical: 丨 (no. 2)Strokes: 4

View stroke order →

Definitions

within
among
in
middle
center
while (doing sth)
during
(dialect) OK
all right

Example Sentences

书在桌子中间。

Shū zài zhuōzi zhōngjiān

The book is in the middle of the table

Words Containing 中

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
中亚	Zhōng Yà	Central Asia
丁肇中	Dīng Zhào zhōng	Samuel C. C. Ting (1936-), American physicist, 1976 Nobel Prize laureate in physics
不中意	bù zhòng yì	not to one's liking
不中用	bù zhòng yòng	unfit for anything
中世纪	zhōng shì jì	medieval

Related Words

当中(dāng zhōng)· among

→

之中(zhī zhōng)· inside

→

三军(sān jūn)· (in former times) upper, middle and lower army

→

中纪委(Zhōng jì wěi)· Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), organization within the CCP which investigates corruption and other wrongdoing among Party cadres

→

Grammar Notes

Questions with 吗HSK 1

Statement + 吗？

Adjectives with 很HSK 1

Subject + 很 + Adjective

Expressing "Want" with 想HSK 1

Subject + 想 + Verb + Object

Ability with 会HSK 1

Subject + 会 + Verb + Object

Because/So (因为...所以)HSK 2

因为 + Reason, 所以 + Result

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

中: New to the HSK lists at HSK 3. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 中 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.