How to say "medium" in Japanese

• 中ちゅうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers medium as a size — the middle choice between small and large — and also average grades or levels. It likewise means middle in general; use it for a middling size or mark.
• 媒体ばいたいCommon
  nounThis is medium in the sense of a means of transmission or communication — the channel that carries information — and it also means media, as in news media.
  空気くうきは音おとの媒体ばいたいだ。↗

  The air is a medium for sound.
• 並なみJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers medium in the sense of average or ordinary — neither especially good nor bad. Use it for middling quality, ability or performance, with a nuance of being unremarkable.
  これは並なみの能力のうりょくではない。↗

  This isn't any ordinary ability.
• 中位ちゅういCommon
  nounRefers to a middle position or rank — medium in the sense of falling between high and low. It can also suggest mediocrity, an average level that is neither good nor bad.
• 巫女みこCommon
  nounThe spiritual sense: a medium as a person — a woman believed to convey messages from spirits or deities, such as a shrine maiden or shamaness. Unrelated to the size and media senses.

Choose 中 for medium size or middling grades, 並 for average or ordinary quality, 中位 for a middle rank or mediocrity, 媒体 for a medium or media of communication, and 巫女 for a spiritual medium.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 中ちゅうmedium (size)
• 媒体ばいたいmedium
• 並なみaverage
• 中位ちゅういmedium
• ミディアムmedium (cooked, roasted, etc.)
• 巫かんなぎmedium
• 媒質ばいしつmedium (for carrying energy waves)
• 媒介物ばいかいぶつmedium
• 女神子おんなみこmedium
• いたこnecromancer (esp. a blind female in northeastern Honshu)
• ゆたshaman (Okinawa, Amami)
• 市子いちこsorceress
• 仲介物ちゅうかいぶつintermediary
• 霊能者れいのうしゃpsychic
• 霊媒師れいばいしspiritualist
• 展色剤てんしょくざい(ink) vehicle
• 陰陽師おんみょうじdiviner
• 巫覡ふげきshaman
• 陰陽家いんようかdiviner (esp. of the Yin and Yang system)
• 中くらいちゅうくらい(about) medium
• 培養基ばいようき(culture) medium
• 中程度ちゅうていど(about) medium
• 巫者ふしゃvirgin consecrated to a deity
• 巫女みこmedium
• さ庭さにわperson who receives divine messages
• Ｍエムmedium