KaiwaGo中 kanji: meaning, readings and stroke order
中 means “middle, inside”. It is written with 4 strokes and is a JLPT N5 kanji.
On’yomi: チュウ (chuu). Kun’yomi: なか (naka).
How to write 中 (stroke order)
Write 中 in 4 strokes, following the numbers. Each small box adds one stroke; the red line is the stroke to draw.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
General rules: top before bottom, left before right, horizontal before a vertical that crosses it, and a closing bottom stroke last. Writing in the right order makes handwriting readable and helps you count strokes when you look a kanji up.
Practice writing 中
Trace 中 over the faint model with your finger or mouse, following the stroke order above. Turn the model off to write it from memory.
Readings of 中
| On’yomi (Chinese reading) | チュウ (chuu) |
|---|---|
| Kun’yomi (Japanese reading) | なか (naka) |
The on’yomi is usually used in compound words, the kun’yomi when 中 stands alone or is followed by hiragana. A dot (.) marks where the hiragana ending starts.
Example words with 中
| Word | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中 | なか naka | inside | |
| 中国 | ちゅうごく chuugoku | China |
中 (naka) means “inside”.
中国 (chuugoku) means “China”. Also in this word: 国
FAQ
What does 中 mean in Japanese?
中 means “middle, inside”. Common words with it are 中 (naka, “inside”) and 中国 (chuugoku, “China”).
How many strokes does 中 have?
中 has 4 strokes. Follow the stroke-order diagram on this page from stroke 1 to 4.
How do you read 中?
The on’yomi is チュウ (chuu) and the kun’yomi is なか (naka). Which one is used depends on the word.
Is 中 on the JLPT N5?
Yes. 中 is kanji number 37 of the 101 N5 kanji on this site.