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中

中 — in, inside, middle

Learn the correct stroke order for 中 (in), a 4-stroke kanji.

JLPT N5Grade 14 strokes

Stroke Order

1234
Stroke 0 / 4
On'yomi (音読み)チュウchuu
Kun'yomi (訓読み)なかnaka、うちuchi、あた.るataru
Strokes4
Radical丨
Frequency#11
Meaningsin, inside, middle, mean, center

Step-by-Step Diagram

1
2
3
4

Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 4 — start from the green dot

Common Words

渦中かちゅうvortex; maelstrom; whirlpoolnoun
海中かいちゅうin the seanoun
寒中かんちゅうmid-winter; cold seasonnoun
間中あいだじゅうduringnoun
宮中きゅうちゅうimperial courtnoun
胸中きょうちゅうone's heart; one's mind; one's intentionsnoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 中 (in) is taught in grade 1 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N5 level. It has 4 strokes with radical 丨.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 中 is #11, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

渦中かちゅう — vortex; maelstrom; whirlpool
海中かいちゅう — in the sea
寒中かんちゅう — mid-winter; cold season

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (丨)

串spit

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 中 have?

The kanji 中 (in) has 4 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 中?

中 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 中 mean?

中 means: in, inside, middle, mean, center. On'yomi readings: チュウ. Kun'yomi readings: なか, うち, あた.る.

What JLPT level is 中?

中 is a JLPT N5 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.