中间 zhōngjiān center
center; middle; between; among
How to remember 中间: 中 middle + 间 room = center.
Characters
How it is used
- The middle/center, or 'between/among' - 坐在中间 (zuò zài zhōngjiān) sit in the middle.
- For 'between A and B' use 在 A 和 B 中间 (zài A hé B zhōngjiān).
- Spatial and abstract: 中间人 (zhōngjiānrén) middleman/go-between.
- Compare 之间 (zhījiān), a more formal 'between'; 中间 also means the physical center point, which 之间 does not.
Example sentences
- 她在中间。 Tā zài zhōngjiān.She's in the middle.
- 路中间有一辆卡车。 Lù zhōngjiān yǒu yīliàng kǎchē.A truck was standing in the middle of the road.
- 别让孩子们在马路中间嬉戏。 Bié ràng háizi men zài mǎlù zhōngjiān xīxì.Don't let children play in the road.