真(ま)ん中(なか)

まんなか
noun
center, middle
direction
1. center, middle, right in the middle
The exact center point of something. The 真(ま)ん emphasizes that it's the true/exact center.
机(つくえ)の真(ま)ん中(なか)に花(はな)を置(お)きました。
I placed flowers in the middle of the desk.
部屋(へや)の真(ま)ん中(なか)に立(た)ってください。
Please stand in the center of the room.
道(みち)の真(ま)ん中(なか)を歩(ある)かないでください。
Please don't walk in the middle of the road.
写真(しゃしん)の真(ま)ん中(なか)に立(た)って、みんなで笑(わら)ってください。
Please stand in the center of the photo and everyone smile.
真(ま)ん中(なか)の席(せき)が空(あ)いていますから、そこに座(すわ)りましょう。窓(まど)から遠(とお)いですが、見(み)やすいと思(おも)います。
The middle seat is empty, so let's sit there. It's far from the window, but I think it's easy to see from there.

真(ま)ん中(なか) emphasizes the exact center. The 真(ま)ん prefix means 'true/exact' and intensifies 中(なか).

Similar words

  • 中(なか): inside, middle (general)
  • 真(ま)ん中(なか): right in the center, dead center (exact)

Common patterns

  • 〜の真(ま)ん中(なか)に: in the center of ~
  • 真(ま)ん中(なか)の席(せき): the middle seat
  • 真(ま)ん中(なか)あたり: around the middle

Related words

The same emphatic prefix, as 真(ま)ん or 真(ま)っ, appears in other words meaning 'exactly, right':

Related Words

Synonym: 中心(ちゅうしん) (center (formal))
Compare: 中央(ちゅうおう) (center, middle, central)
Compare: 中間(ちゅうかん) (middle)
Compare: 真(ま)っ只中(ただなか) (right in the middle of)
Compare: 中央部(ちゅうおうぶ) (central part)
Related: 真(ま)ん前(まえ) (right in front)
Related: 真(ま)ん丸(まる) (perfectly round)
Related: まっすぐ (straight ahead)
Related: 真(ま)っ白(しろ) (pure white)
Related: 真下(ました) (directly below)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:11 · Revised 2026.10.12 3:42
00500/00968_mannaka