China is called "中国" in Chinese. "中" is the Chinese character we will learn today. "国" means Country. After you understand the meaning of "中", you will see that our Chinese never think our country as just a place produces china.
Let us see the evolution history of "中" as usual. (image get from http://www.vividict.com)
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Learn one Chinese Character a day - "中"
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Early stage of Oracle script .gif)
, we can see that it is composed of two army flags jian(1).gif)
, with an indicator symbol jian(2).gif)
at middle of the two flags (we will seeas indicator in lots of Chinese characters.). It means "the middle place between two armies". Chinese ancestors added another two dotsjian(3).gif)
besides the indicator symbolto mean that these two armies are confronting each other. As you can see that the original meaning of is "the middle place between two confronting armies", or we can consider it as "demilitarized zone between two confronting armies".
, we can see that it is composed of two army flags , with an indicator symbol at middle of the two flags (we will seeas indicator in lots of Chinese characters.). It means "the middle place between two armies". Chinese ancestors added another two dotsbesides the indicator symbolto mean that these two armies are confronting each other. As you can see that the original meaning of is "the middle place between two confronting armies", or we can consider it as "demilitarized zone between two confronting armies".
Another Oracle script .gif)
, is to represent a flag jian(1)(2).gif)
to be erected at the center of a town jian(2).gif)
. Normally town built in China is in square shape (口). is the outlook of a town with flag seen from a distance.
, is to represent a flag to be erected at the center of a town . Normally town built in China is in square shape (口). is the outlook of a town with flag seen from a distance.
Later stage of Oracle script, is simplified to .gif)
with a flagpolejian(1).gif)
to replace flag .
is simplified to with a flagpoleto replace flag . is very close to what we are using now. "中".
During Bronze script period, there were still three ways of writing of "中". Thanks to Qin Shihuang, who unified the Chinese writing, starting from Seal Script and Clerical Script, there is only one way of writing - .gif)
.
.
When "中" is a noun, it is to mean Center, Interior, or Middle.
Since "中" has the meaning of Middle or Center, it is extended to mean Average or Middle as adj.
And when "中" is used as verb, it is also to mean Achieve (follow) or Hit the Mark (follow ).
) or Hit the Mark (follow ).
"中国" is then to mean a country at the center of the world.
Now let us enjoy a Chinese calligraphy with "中" inside:
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Learn one Chinese Character a day - "中"
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