中 Stroke Order — How to Write 中
中 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 丨, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
中 Radical and Character Components
中 is an ideographic compound. A line 丨 through the center of a box 口.
Radical: 丨 + 3 more strokes
中 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- zhōng
- zhòng
Meanings of 中 in Chinese
1
zhōng中
Refers to the center or middle position, equidistant from all sides or ends.
桌子当中放着一束鲜花。
A bouquet of fresh flowers is placed in the middle of the table.
Within a certain range or area; inside; in the midst of.
我把礼物藏在包中，想给你一个惊喜。
I hid the gift in the bag, wanting to give you a surprise.
Referring to a quality, level, or position that is in the middle, between two extremes; average.
她的学习成绩一直保持在中等水平。
Her academic performance has always remained at an average level.
Indicating an action is in progress.
他正在学习中，请不要打扰他。
He is currently studying, please do not disturb him.
Refers specifically to China, often used in terms like "Chinese style" (中式) or "Chinese language" (中文).
她正在学习中文。
She is learning Chinese.
To be suitable for or agreeable to (e.g., in phrases like 'pleasing to the eye' or 'pleasing to the ear').
他说的这些话一点也不中听
What he said was not at all pleasing to the ear.
2
zhòng中
To hit, to win, to be to one's liking or satisfaction, as in winning a prize or being selected, or finding something agreeable.
他昨天买彩票中奖了。
He won the lottery yesterday.
To suffer from; to be affected by; to be hit by (e.g., a disease, a trick, a prize).
他因为在烈日下工作太久，不幸中暑了
He unfortunately suffered from heatstroke because he worked too long under the scorching sun.
To be selected or admitted, especially to win a prize or be successful in a competition.
她买的彩票中了头奖。
The lottery ticket she bought won the first prize.
Common Words and Phrases with 中
1
Midwatch (on a ship, from midnight to 4 AM); middle shift (e.g., afternoon to midnight work shift); or the middle class in a kindergarten (for 5-6 year olds).
我通常上中班，所以白天有时间处理个人事务。
I usually work the swing shift, so I have time during the day to handle personal matters.
2
To embezzle or appropriate funds, especially public funds, for personal gain.
那位负责管理俱乐部经费的司库，竟然利用职权中饱私囊，挪用了大笔公款。
The treasurer, who was responsible for managing the club's funds, actually used their authority to line their own pockets, misappropriating a large sum of the public money.
3
to win a bid; to be the successful bidder; to secure a contract through bidding
我们的公司成功中标了这座新体育馆的建设工程。
Our company successfully won the bid for the construction project of the new stadium.
4
Cousins or cousinship; historically referring to children of one's father's sisters or mother's sisters.
我和我的中表兄弟姐妹们从小一起长大，感情深厚。
My cousins and I grew up together since childhood, and we share a deep bond.
5
Medium wave (MW), referring to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 100-1000 meters (frequencies from 300-3000 kHz), primarily used for short-distance radio broadcasting.
老式收音机通常通过接收中波信号来播放广播节目。
Old radios typically play broadcast programs by receiving medium wave signals.
6
central or middle part/section
这座山脉的中部有一片茂密的森林。
The central part of this mountain range has a dense forest.
7
to win a prize in a lottery or a bet
希望这次能中彩，解决一些经济上的困难。
I hope I can win the lottery this time to solve some financial difficulties.
8
Chinese food
我今天晚上想吃中餐，你有什么好的推荐吗？
I feel like having Chinese food tonight; do you have any good recommendations?
9
Chinese herbal medicine
很多家庭都备有中草药以应对日常小病。
Many families keep traditional Chinese herbal medicines on hand for minor everyday ailments.
10
the second best plan
面对有限的预算，将一部分资金投入到风险较低但回报稳定的项目，不失为一种中策。
Given a limited budget, investing a portion of the funds into projects with lower risk but stable returns can be considered a sound middle-tier strategy.
11
Middle level or layer; often refers to a rank or position between the top and bottom in an organization or hierarchy, or can refer to the mesosphere.
公司中层管理人员将负责协调各个部门的工作，确保项目顺利进行。
The company's middle management will be responsible for coordinating the work of various departments to ensure the project proceeds smoothly.
12
Middle-level cadres, referring to officials or managers in the middle ranks of an organization.
这家公司非常重视中层干部的培养，因为他们是连接高层决策与基层执行的关键环节。
This company places great importance on the development of mid-level managers, as they are a crucial link connecting senior leadership decisions with frontline execution.
13
The middle class; the social group between the upper and working classes.
随着经济发展，越来越多人加入了中产阶级行列，他们更加注重生活品质和子女教育。
With economic development, an increasing number of people are joining the ranks of the middle class, focusing more on quality of life and children's education.
14
Average; middling
这个月的天气温度中常，不冷不热，非常宜人。
The weather temperature this month is average, neither cold nor hot, very pleasant.
15
an official title in ancient China, often referring to a Grand Censor.
中丞在巡视地方时，发现了一桩涉及农田水利的民生案件。
When the Zhongcheng was inspecting the local area, he discovered a civil case involving agricultural irrigation.
16
Sagging or bowing downwards in the middle, like a ship's hull under pressure.
这座木质平台由于长期承受重物，中间部分开始出现明显的中垂
Due to prolonged bearing of heavy objects, the middle section of this wooden platform began to show a noticeable sag.
More words with 中
- qí其zhōng中Among them; in which
- tú途zhōng中on the way; en route
- cāi猜zhòng中to guess correctly
- gòu彀zhōng中within one's reach, in one's power
- hàn汉zhōng中Hanzhong, Hanzhong City
- láng郎zhōng中physician, doctor
- cù卒zhòng中Stroke
- jú局zhōng中rén人Insider, Participant
- luó罗guàn贯zhōng中Luo Guanzhong
- náng囊zhōng中wù物A sure thing, A dead certainty
- qiān铅zhòng中dú毒lead poisoning, plumbism
- yāng央zhōng中The Center, Central
- jǐ给shì事zhōng中Supervising Secretary, Secretary-Censor
- zhōng中duàn断interrupt, suspend
- zhōng中guó国China, Middle Kingdom
- zhōng中wén文Chinese, Chinese language
- zhōng中wǔ午noon, midday
- zhōng中xīn心center, core
- zhōng中yāng央center, central
- zhōng中yào药Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese herbal medicine
Idioms with 中
- zhōng中bǎo饱sī私náng囊line one's own pockets
- zhōng中jiāng江jǔ举fān帆set sail at midstream
- zhōng中lì立bù不yǐ倚remain neutral and impartial
- zhōng中liú流dǐ砥zhù柱a tower of strength in turbulent times
- zhōng中liú流jī击jí楫Strike oar in midstream, firm resolve
- zhōng中tú途ér而fèi废give up halfway
- zhōng中wài外chí驰míng名World-renowned
- zhōng中wài外hé合bì璧perfect blend of Chinese and foreign
- zhōng中xī西hé合bì璧perfect blend of Chinese and Western
- zhōng中yōng庸zhī之dào道the golden mean
- zhōng中yuán原zhú逐lù鹿contend for supremacy
- àn暗zhōng中mō摸suǒ索grope in the dark
Recommended tools
Picture Worksheets
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →Questions about 中
What does 中 mean in Chinese?
中 (zhōng) means “Within a certain range or area” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 中?
中 has 2 pronunciations: zhōng, zhòng.
How many strokes does 中 have?
中 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 中?
中 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 丨. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 中?
The radical of 中 is 丨, and 中 is an ideographic compound.