中 middle

Also: inside

On'yomi: チュウ
Kun'yomi: なか
Strokes: 4
JLPT: N5
Taught in: Primary school, year 1

Stroke order

1
2
3
4

中 is written in 4 strokes. Each panel adds the next one; the dot marks where the brush starts.

Remember it

A vertical line skewers a box right through its centre — the stick sits in the middle, inside the box.

A common word

中学ちゅうがく middle school

Example sentences

かばんの中に本があります。
かばんのなかにほんがあります。
There's a book inside the bag.
今日は一日中いそがしかった。
きょうはいちにちじゅういそがしかった。
I was busy all day today.

Don't confuse it with

口 mouth

Kanji that share a part

丨 is its radical. 28 kanji share it in all.

出 go out
不 not
引 pull
表 surface
収 income N3
旧 old N3
由 wherefore N3
申 have the honor to N3

口 is a component. 124 kanji share it in all.