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中介 (zhōng jiè) — intermediary, agent, agency

Definition

中介 is a real-estate or business 'agent / agency' — a person or company that connects two sides (e.g. 通过中介租房子). For abstract mediation use 媒介; for a legal representative use 代理人.

noun
intermediaryagentagency
Measure word · 家

Examples

  • 中介。
    Wǒ xiǎng tōng guò zhōng jiè zū fáng zi.
    I want to rent an apartment through an agent.
  • 中介。
    Zhè jiā zhōng jiè gōng sī fú wù hěn hǎo.
    This agency has very good service.
  • 中介。
    zhōng jiè Shōu de zhōng jiè fèi bù gāo.
    The agency fee they charge is not high.

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
介jièintermediary

中 gives the middle position, and 介 denotes the go-between role.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

介 shows a central human form with two marks around it, indicating being between.

Open 介 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Business & CommerceProfessions & Jobs

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