中|ちゅうchuu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounmedium (size); average (grade, level, etc.); middle
2. suffixin; within; out of (e.g. ten people); among
   空気くうき中ちゅうのごく小ちいさい粒子りゅうしがガンのもとになり得うる。↗

   Tiny particles in the air can cause cancer.

   ある調査ちょうさによると、今日きょうでは５人にん中ちゅう３人にんが外交がいこう問題もんだいには無関心むかんしんのようだ。↗

   According to a survey, three in five people today are indifferent to foreign affairs.

   １０人にん中ちゅう３人にんはビデオを持もっている。↗

   Three out of ten persons have a video.
3. suffixduring; while; in (the course of); within (a period); throughout
   彼かれは旅行りょこう中ちゅうに病気びょうきになった。↗

   He got sick during the trip.
4. suffixcurrently (doing); in the process of; in the middle of; under (e.g. construction, investigation)
   隣となりの部屋へやでは会議かいぎ中ちゅうです。↗

   There is a conference going on in the next room.
5. nounmiddle way; moderation
6. nounsecond volume (of three)
7. nounjunior high school; middle school
8. nounChina

• Synonym中位ちゅういWrittenWritten term for a middle rank, as in 「中位の成績」; it centres on rank order, while 「中」 mostly combines with other words, as in 「中サイズ」 and 「会議中」.
• SynonymミドルNeutralLoanword for a middle tier or middle age, as in 「ミドル世代」「ミドルクラス」「ミドル級」; it mostly serves as the first element of compounds.
• Synonym中くらいちゅうくらいCasualColloquial for a medium degree or size, as in 「中くらいの大きさ」; more conversational than 「中」, and centred on size or degree.
• Related真ん中まんなかCasualEveryday word for the exact middle of a space or time. 「中」 read 「ちゅう」 can also indicate a medium grade or a period.
• Related中央ちゅうおうNeutralThe very centre, or the central government, as in 「部屋の中央」「中央集権」; it stresses a core position, whereas 「中」 covers much more than this one sense.
• Related中心ちゅうしんNeutralThe centre or core, as in 「町の中心」「中心人物」; it stresses importance, while 「中」 ranges well beyond this sense.
• Related中間ちゅうかんNeutralA position, stage or stance between two extremes; 「中」 read 「ちゅう」 can also mean a medium degree or an entire period.
• RelatedうちNeutralThe inside, and also a span of time, often in 「うちに」; 「中」 read 「ちゅう」 usually serves as a suffix for periods or ranges.
• Related内側うちがわNeutralThe inner side, as in 「箱の内側」; paired with 「外側」, it refers to the physical inside face of an object, not to a span of time.
• Related凡ぼんWrittenWritten style for 'ordinary', mostly in 「凡人」「平凡」; rarely used alone. 「中」 carries no evaluation.
• Related平凡へいぼんNeutralOrdinary and unremarkable, as in 「平凡な毎日」; it stresses lacking distinction, while 「中」 only says the degree is middling.
• Related凡庸ぼんようWrittenWritten word for mediocrity, as in 「凡庸な人物」; slightly derogatory. 「中」 only places the degree in the middle, with no evaluation.
• Related中頃なかごろNeutralA period roughly in the middle of some span, as in 「五月の中頃」; 「中」 as a period suffix does not specifically point to the middle phase.
• Related十人並みじゅうにんなみCasualColloquial for average looks or ability, as in 「十人並みの顔」; it stresses being ordinary rather than midway in degree.
• Related正中せいちゅうWrittenWritten word for the exact centre, also for a celestial body crossing the meridian; rather technical. In daily speech say 「真ん中」.
• Related中心点ちゅうしんてんWrittenThe point where the centre lies, or the most important part; 「中」 read 「ちゅう」 does not single out one central point.
• Related中点ちゅうてんWrittenWritten word for the midpoint of a line segment or the interpunct 「・」; mathematical and typographical, unrelated to 「中」 as 'medium degree'.
• Related只中ただなかWrittenWritten word for the very middle or the most intense moment, as in 「嵐のただ中」; it stresses being in the thick of things more than 「中」 does.
• Related凡俗ぼんぞくWrittenWritten word for mundane mediocrity, as in 「凡俗な考え」; derogatory. 「中」 only says the degree is middling.
• RelatedインサイドNeutralLoanword for the inside or the inside of a curve, common in sports; 「中」 read 「ちゅう」 can also mean a medium degree or a period.
• Antonym端はしNeutralThe edge or end far from the centre, the opposite of 「中」 in its 'middle' sense; it does not contrast with the medium-grade or period senses.

Use 「中」 for a medium degree or for a period or range, as in 「中サイズ」 and 「会議中」. For the exact middle say 「真ん中」, for something between two things 「中間」, for the core 「中心」, and for the edge 「端」. 「中くらい」 is the colloquial word for medium size, 「中央」 the very centre or the central government, 「内」 the inside or a span of time, 「内側」 the inner side of an object, and 「平凡」「凡庸」 evaluate ordinariness, which 「中」 never does.

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

1. 【なか】 物ものの内側うちがわ。
2. 【チュウ】 大おおきいとも小ちいさいとも言いえない状態じょうたい。
3. 【チュウ】 成績評価せいせきひょうかにおいて、優すぐれているとも劣おとっているとも言いえない状態じょうたい。平均的へいきんてき。
4. 【チュウ】 大規模だいきぼな文章ぶんしょうや書籍しょせきなどで、中なかの方ほうの部分ぶぶん。
5. 【チュウ】中学校ちゅうがっこう。
6. 【チュウ】 動作どうさや行為こういのただなかにあること。また語彙ごいにより、行為こうい発生はっせい後ごの状態じょうたいの継続けいぞくやなんらかの行為こういのための準備じゅんび期間きかんにあることなども表あらわす。
7. 【チュウ】 その範囲はんいのなか。
8. 【チュウ】 （「A中ちゅうのA」の形かたちで）その範囲はんいのなかで特とくにすぐれたもの、特異とくいなもの。
9. 【ジュウ】 その範囲はんいのすべて。
10. 【ジュウ・チュウ】 それが終おわるまでのいつか。