之中 zhīzhōng inside
inside; among; in the midst of (doing something); during
How to remember 之中: 之 of + 中 middle = inside.
Characters
How it is used
- 之中 (zhīzhōng) is a formal, written postposition meaning 'within, amid,' attaching after a noun phrase: 在混乱之中 (zài hùnluàn zhīzhōng) - amid the chaos.
- It's essentially a literary version of 里/当中 (li/dāngzhōng); in everyday speech people just say X里面 or X当中 instead of X之中.
- Frequently used in the pattern 在…之中 to describe being immersed in a state or process: 在考虑之中 (zài kǎolǜ zhīzhōng) - under consideration.
Example sentences
- 你处于危险之中。 Nǐ chǔyú wēixiǎn zhīzhōng.You were in danger.
- 我们都处于危险之中。 Wǒmen dōu chǔyú wēixiǎn zhīzhōng.We're all at risk.
- 一年之中，你最喜欢哪个季节？ Yīnián zhīzhōng, nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge jìjié?What's your favorite season of the year?