KANJI: CHUU naka (middle, in, inside, mean, center, China)

ASCII Art Representation:

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Character Etymology:

Some scholars feel that this character came from a stylized depiction of a flagpole reinforced by a second pole, while other scholars seem to take it showing an arrow piercing the center of the target. In Chinese, it can still mean hit center, which suggests that this latter theory is correct.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: CHUU
kun-yomi: naka uchi ata(ru)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: ataru kanae

English Definitions:

1. CHUU: center, middle (course); (golden) mean; medium, mediocrity, average; second volume (of three).
2. naka: inside, interior, midst, middle, midway.
3. uchi: inside, interior; house, home; within; between, among, out of; mind myself.
4. chuu(suru): reach the middle; reach the height (of prosperity).
5. -chuu, -juu: through, throughout, during; all over (town); within, among, in.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 28
Henshall: 55

Unicode Encoded Version:

中

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

中国 (chuugoku): China; middle of a country; the area surrounding Hiroshima.
中年 (chuunen): middle age.
中学生 (chuugakusei): middle school student.

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