What is the Kanji for 'Center'? | 央

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Center', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Center' is 央.

kanji

央

Meaning

Center

Reading

onyomiおう

Parts

大Big 口Mouth

Example Word

中央: center or middle. The Japanese noun '中央 (ちゅうおう)' primarily means 'center' or 'middle'. It refers to the central part of something, whether it's a physical space, an organization, or a concept. For example: the center of the city「街の中央」(まちのちゅうおう). The middle of the room「部屋の中央」(へやのちゅうおう). It can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as the central government「中央政府」(ちゅうおうせいふ). The word is versatile and can be applied to various contexts where the concept of centrality is relevant.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1349

Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 央

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

kanji

大

Meaning

Big

kanji

口

Meaning

Mouth

央 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 2 other kanji:

kanji

英

Meaning

England, Distinguished

kanji

映

Meaning

Reflect

Words Using 央

This kanji is used in 1 word:

word

中央

Meaning

Center, Middle

Kanji Related to 央 Through the Part 大

These 21 kanji contain the part 大 as well.

kanji

天

Meaning

Heaven

kanji

犬

Meaning

Dog

kanji

太

Meaning

Thick, Fat

kanji

矢

Meaning

Arrow

kanji

奥

Meaning

Core, Heart

kanji

因

Meaning

Cause

kanji

参

Meaning

Participate

kanji

失

Meaning

Lose, Fault

kanji

器

Meaning

Vessel

kanji

契

Meaning

Pledge

kanji

美

Meaning

Beautiful

kanji

奨

Meaning

Urge, Encourage

kanji

戻

Meaning

Return

kanji

漠

Meaning

Vague, Desert

kanji

突

Meaning

Stab, Dash

kanji

奪

Meaning

Take by force, Rob

kanji

奇

Meaning

Strange, Unusual

kanji

臭

Meaning

Stinking, Bad smell

kanji

奔

Meaning

Rush, Bustle

kanji

奈

Meaning

But, Nara

kanji

爽

Meaning

Refreshing

Kanji Related to 央 Through the Part 口

These 102 kanji contain the part 口 as well.

kanji

四

Meaning

Four

kanji

右

Meaning

Right

kanji

中

Meaning

Center

kanji

日

Meaning

Day, Sun

kanji

田

Meaning

Rice field

kanji

名

Meaning

Name

kanji

目

Meaning

Eye

kanji

足

Meaning

Foot, Sufficient

kanji

石

Meaning

Stone

kanji

高

Meaning

High, Expensive

kanji

同

Meaning

Same

kanji

兄

Meaning

Older brother

kanji

古

Meaning

Old

kanji

西

Meaning

West

kanji

国

Meaning

Country

kanji

園

Meaning

Garden

kanji

谷

Meaning

Valley

kanji

京

Meaning

Capital

kanji

言

Meaning

Say

kanji

語

Meaning

Language, Word

kanji

知

Meaning

Know

kanji

鳴

Meaning

Chirp

kanji

回

Meaning

Revolve, Times

kanji

船

Meaning

Ship

kanji

合

Meaning

Fit, Match

kanji

台

Meaning

Pedestal, Machine

kanji

員

Meaning

Member

kanji

事

Meaning

Thing

kanji

味

Meaning

Flavor

kanji

問

Meaning

Question, Problem

kanji

束

Meaning

Bundle, Bind

kanji

和

Meaning

Peace

kanji

因

Meaning

Cause

kanji

加

Meaning

Join, Add

kanji

喜

Meaning

Rejoice

kanji

咲

Meaning

Bloom, Blossom

kanji

呼

Meaning

Invite, Call

kanji

吸

Meaning

Inhale, Suck

kanji

可

Meaning

Possible

kanji

号

Meaning

Number

kanji

由

Meaning

Reason

kanji

周

Meaning

Circumference

kanji

豆

Meaning

Beans

kanji

句

Meaning

Phrase, Paragraph

kanji

聖

Meaning

Saint, Holy

kanji

品

Meaning

Product

kanji

告

Meaning

Announce

kanji

各

Meaning

Each

kanji

器

Meaning

Vessel

kanji

害

Meaning

Harm

kanji

史

Meaning

History

kanji

喫

Meaning

Ingest, Consume

kanji

憲

Meaning

Constitution

kanji

善

Meaning

Good, Virtuous

kanji

吉

Meaning

Lucky, Good luck

kanji

命

Meaning

Command, Life

kanji

囲

Meaning

Surround

kanji

占

Meaning

Fortune telling

kanji

否

Meaning

Negate

kanji

司

Meaning

Director

kanji

倉

Meaning

Warehouse

kanji

哲

Meaning

Sagacious, Philosophy

kanji

含

Meaning

Contain, Include

kanji

喝

Meaning

Hoarse, Shout at

kanji

叫

Meaning

Shout

kanji

吐

Meaning

Spit, Spew

kanji

嘆

Meaning

Sigh

kanji

舌

Meaning

Tongue

kanji

君

Meaning

Ruler, You

kanji

豪

Meaning

Great man, Magnificent

kanji

拐

Meaning

Kidnap

kanji

尋

Meaning

Inquire

kanji

喚

Meaning

Yell, Call

kanji

嘱

Meaning

Request, Entrust

kanji

唆

Meaning

Entice, Instigate

kanji

如

Meaning

As, Likeness

kanji

唇

Meaning

Lips, Lip

kanji

亭

Meaning

Inn, Pavilion

kanji

哀

Meaning

Pity, Sorrow

kanji

噴

Meaning

Spout, Erupt

kanji

唯

Meaning

Only, Solely

kanji

獣

Meaning

Beast, Animal

kanji

唱

Meaning

Chant

kanji

吏

Meaning

Officer, Official

kanji

呈

Meaning

Display, Present

kanji

召

Meaning

Seduce, Summon

kanji

啓

Meaning

Enlighten, State respectfully

kanji

嚇

Meaning

Upbraid, Menacing

kanji

后

Meaning

Empress

kanji

唐

Meaning

Tang dynasty

kanji

喪

Meaning

Loss, Mourn, Mourning

kanji

嗣

Meaning

Heir

kanji

呪

Meaning

Curse

kanji

喉

Meaning

Throat

kanji

呂

Meaning

Bath

kanji

哺

Meaning

Nurse, Suckle

kanji

嗅

Meaning

Smell, Sniff

kanji

喩

Meaning

Compare, Metaphor

kanji

嘲

Meaning

Ridicule, Insult

kanji

唄

Meaning

Shamisen song

kanji

咽

Meaning

Windpipe

kanji

唾

Meaning

Sputum, Saliva

Learn the Kanji 央

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 央 mean?

央 means 'Center'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N2 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.