中央 zhōngyāng central
central; middle; center; central authorities (of a state)
How to remember 中央: 中 middle + 央 center = central.
Characters
How it is used
- Physical center - 广场中央 (guǎngchǎng zhōngyāng) the middle of the square.
- Chiefly political: the central (national) government/leadership - 党中央 (dǎng zhōngyāng) the Party Central Committee; 中央电视台 (Zhōngyāng Diànshìtái) China Central Television (CCTV).
- 中央 as 'center' is more formal/spatial-core than 中间 (zhōngjiān, the middle/in-between); and it uniquely carries the 'central authorities' meaning.
Example sentences
- 图书馆位于市中央。 Túshūguǎn wèiyú shì zhōngyāng.The library is in the middle of the city.
- 你知道中央情报局的什么？ Nǐ zhīdào zhōngyāng qíngbàojú de shénme?What do you know about the CIA?
- 这栋楼里面有中央暖气系统吗？ Zhèdòng lóu lǐmiàn yǒu zhōngyāng nuǎnqì xìtǒng ma?Is there central heating in this building?