TongTong
Sign in

中人 (zhōng rén) — go-between; mediator; intermediary; an average person; one of ordinary stature/ability

Definition

中人 has two distinct senses: 'mediator/go-between' (someone who settles a deal or dispute) and 'a person of average ability' (a nobody, unremarkable). Both senses are formal/literary — not everyday speech.

noun
go-betweenmediatorintermediaryan average personone of ordinary stature/ability
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 中人。
    Zhè wèi zhōng rén zài liǎng jiā gōng sī zhī jiān zuò le hěn duō tiáo jiě gōng zuò.
    This mediator did a lot of conciliation work between the two companies.
  • 中人，。
    Tā zhǐ shì yí gè zhōng rén, méi yǒu shén me tè bié de cái néng.
    He's just an average person with no special talents.
  • 中人。
    Tā men qǐng le yí wèi zhōng rén lái zuò jiàn zhèng.
    They invited a mediator to serve as a witness.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

中zhōngmiddle
人rénperson

中 ('middle') and 人 ('person') form 'middle person', a go-between or ordinary person.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Social Roles & Status

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.