JLPT N3

Meaning and Usage

The character '' primarily relates to relationships or connections between people. It is often used in classical or formal contexts to denote a middle position, especially the second among siblings, or to indicate mediation or arbitration between parties.

Common Collocations

  • (zhòngcái): arbitration, mediation to resolve disputes.
  • (xiōng zhòng): the second brother in a family.

Usage Notes

'' is less common in everyday modern Mandarin but appears in formal, historical, or literary contexts. When used to indicate sibling order, it specifically refers to the second-born brother, which is a cultural nuance important in classical Chinese. In modern usage, it often appears in compound words related to mediation or relationships.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse '' with '' (zhōng), which means 'middle' or 'center' in a more general sense. '' has a more specific relational or ordinal meaning, especially in familial or legal contexts.

Example Sentences

They have been good friends for many years and have a very good relationship.

In ancient times, ‘仲’ was often used to indicate the second brother among siblings.

The arbitration between them helped resolve the dispute.