중

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 中 (“centre; middle”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

Noun

중 • (jung) (hanja 中)

1. average; intermediate (grade or class)

   Hypernym: 등급(等級) (deunggeup)

   Coordinate terms: 상(上) (sang, “top”), 하(下) (ha, “last; lowest”)

2. medium; middle

   Coordinate terms: 대(大) (dae, “large”), 소(小) (so, “small”)

3. the second volume of a three-volume set

Dependent noun

중 • (jung) (hanja 中)

1. in the course of; during

   식사 중 ― siksa jung ― gone to lunch

   공사 중 ― gongsa jung ― under construction

   회의 중 ― hoe'ui jung ― in a meeting

2. (often in the form 중에서 (jung-eseo, “from amongst”)) amongst
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     그러나 약간의 사례가 가장 접근하기 어려운 지역들 중에 남아 있다.

     Geureona yakgan-ui sarye-ga gajang jeopgeunhagi eoryeoun jiyeok-deul jung-e nama itda.

     But, a few cases remain in areas that are among the most difficult to reach.

Proper noun

중 • (Jung) (hanja 中)

1. Short for 중국(中國) (Jungguk, “China”).

Usage notes

• In news headlines, this is usually written solely in the hanja form, even in contemporary Korean text otherwise devoid of any hanja.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 中 for Sino-Korean compounds of 중 (中, jung).

Etymology 2

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean 쥬ᇰ〯 (Yale: cywǔng). Probably a divergent borrowing from some Chinese term.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Noun

중 • (jung)

1. (somewhat derogatory) a Buddhist monk

Usage notes

• 중 (jung) is somewhat derogatory. 승려(僧侶) (seungnyeo) or 스님 (seunim) is to be preferred in almost all contexts.

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 重.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Prefix

중— • (jung-) (hanja 重)

1. heavy

   ‎중(重) (jung) + ‎공업(工業) (gong'eop, “industry”) → ‎중공업(重工業) (junggong'eop, “heavy industry”)

2. severe

   ‎중(重) (jung) + ‎환자(患者) (hwanja, “patient”) → ‎중환자(重患者) (junghwanja, “critical patient”)

Antonyms

• 경(輕) (gyeong-, “light”)

Derived terms

• 중(重)하다 (junghada)
• See the hanja entry at 重 for Sino-Korean compounds of 중 (重, jung).

Etymology 4

Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

중 (jung)