中 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 中 is about the middle, the center, or the inside of something. You'll meet it in three roles: as a standalone noun (中, "inside / the middle"), as a building block inside compound words (中学校 "junior high school," 中国 "China"), and as a handy suffix meaning "during" or "throughout" (午前中 "during the morning," 一日中 "all day long"). The shape itself is a perfect mnemonic — a box with a line running right through the center — so the meaning is almost impossible to forget.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | なか | 中 (inside, the middle), 中に入る (to go inside) |
| on'yomi | チュウ | 中国 (China), 中学校 (junior high school), 午前中 (during the morning) |
Here's a rule of thumb that works for most kanji, not just this one: the kun'yomi (なか) shows up when the kanji stands more or less alone, while the on'yomi (チュウ) appears inside two-kanji compound words. So 中 by itself is なか, but 中国 is チュウ. One thing to watch with 中: as a suffix it can voice to ジュウ for "throughout a whole span" — 一日中 (いちにちじゅう, "all day long") — while it stays チュウ for "within a period" — 午前中 (ごぜんちゅう, "during the morning"). More on that just below.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 4. Write the box first — left vertical, then the top-and-right corner in one stroke, then the bottom horizontal — and finish with the long vertical line straight down the middle.
- Radical: the radical is 丨 (line), a single vertical stroke. In 中 that line runs cleanly through the center of the box, which is exactly the idea the kanji expresses: something in the middle.
Recognizing this is easy because the radical is the meaning: a line through the middle = "center / inside." Few kanji wear their meaning so plainly.
Common words using 中
Notice the reading split in action: standalone 中 takes なか, while compounds like 中国 and 中学校 flip to チュウ. The suffix 午前中 keeps チュウ, but 一日中 voices to ジュウ — and 田中, a very common surname, quietly uses the kun reading なか. That last one is a reminder that names love kun'yomi.
Example sentences
ヤッタンはかばんの中に本を入れました。
ヤッタンは かばんの なかに ほんを いれました。
Yattan put a book inside the bag.
中 — the kun'yomi なか, standalone meaning 'inside.'
モチの弟は中国の中学校に通っています。
モチの おとうとは ちゅうごくの ちゅうがっこうに かよっています。
Mochi's little brother attends a junior high school in China.
Two compounds with the on'yomi: 中国 (ちゅうごく) and 中学校 (ちゅうがっこう), both チュウ.
先生は「午前中はずっと、弟は一日中ねていました」と言いました。
せんせいは「ごぜんちゅうは ずっと、おとうとは いちにちじゅう ねていました」と いいました。
Sensei said, 'All morning — actually, my little brother slept all day long.'
The suffix split: 午前中 (ごぜんちゅう, チュウ for 'within a period') vs 一日中 (いちにちじゅう, ジュウ voicing for a whole span).
Quick recap
- 中 = inside / middle / in; just 4 strokes; the radical 丨 (line) runs through the center.
- なか when it stands alone (中, 中に入る); チュウ in compounds (中国, 中学校).
- As a suffix: チュウ for "within a period" (午前中) but ジュウ for "throughout a whole span" (一日中). Surnames like 田中 use the kun reading なか.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 中 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 中 in 中 vs 中国?
Alone, 中 is the kun'yomi なか ('inside / the middle'). In 中国 it's the on'yomi チュウ (中国 = ちゅうごく, 'China'). As a rule, compounds take the on'yomi.
Why is 一日中 read with ジュウ but 午前中 with チュウ?
As a suffix, 中 voices to ジュウ when it means 'throughout a whole span' — 一日中 (いちにちじゅう, 'all day long'). It stays チュウ when it means 'within / during a period' — 午前中 (ごぜんちゅう, 'during the morning').
How many strokes does 中 have?
中 has 4 strokes: the box first (three strokes), then the long vertical line straight down the middle. Its radical is 丨, a single vertical line.
How is the surname 田中 read?
田中 is read たなか, using the kun reading なか. Japanese surnames very often use kun'yomi rather than the on'yomi you'd expect in compounds.