Usage note
中心这个词可以指一个地方的正中间，也可以指最重要的地方或部分。
Zhōngxīn zhège cí kěyǐ zhǐ yī gè dìfang de zhèng zhōngjiān, yě kěyǐ zhǐ zuì zhòngyào de dìfang huò bùfen.
The word 'center' can refer to the exact middle of a place, or the most important place or part.
Context note
在教室里，老师的桌子通常在中心。在公园里，有一个喷泉在中心。
Zài jiàoshì lǐ, lǎoshī de zhuōzi tōngcháng zài zhōngxīn. Zài gōngyuán lǐ, yǒu yī gè pēnquán zài zhōngxīn.
In the classroom, the teacher's desk is usually in the center. In the park, there is a fountain in the center.
5 examples
这个圆形的中心有一个小点。
zhè ge yuán xíng de zhōng xīn yǒu yí gè xiǎo diǎn。
There is a small dot in the center of this circle.
购物中心里有很多商店。
gòu wù zhōng xīn lǐ yǒu hěn duō shāng diàn。
There are many stores in the shopping center.
我们的学校在城市的中心。
wǒ men de xué xiào zài chéng shì de zhōng xīn。
Our school is in the center of the city.
请把椅子放在房间的中心。
qǐng bǎ yǐ zi fàng zài fáng jiān de zhōng xīn。
Please put the chair in the center of the room.
这个公园的中心有一个大湖。
zhè ge gōng yuán de zhōng xīn yǒu yí gè dà hú。
There is a big lake in the center of this park.
5 mini stories
小明在操场的中心踢球。他的朋友在周围跑步。
xiǎo míng zài cāo chǎng de zhōng xīn tī qiú。 tā de péng yǒu zài zhōu wéi pǎo bù。
Xiao Ming is playing soccer in the center of the playground. His friends are running around.
花园的中心有一棵大树。小鸟在树上唱歌。
huā yuán de zhōng xīn yǒu yì kē dà shù。 xiǎo niǎo zài shù shàng chàng gē。
There is a big tree in the center of the garden. Little birds are singing in the tree.
图书馆的中心是阅读区。很多孩子在那里看书。
tú shū guǎn de zhōng xīn shì yuè dú qū。 hěn duō hái zi zài nà lǐ kàn shū。
The center of the library is the reading area. Many children are reading books there.
蛋糕的中心有一颗草莓。妈妈把它切开了。
dàn gāo de zhōng xīn yǒu yì kē cǎo méi。 mā ma bǎ tā qiè kāi le。
There is a strawberry in the center of the cake. Mom cut it open.
广场的中心有一个喷泉。孩子们在喷泉旁边玩水。
guǎng chǎng de zhōng xīn yǒu yí gè pēn quán。 hái zi men zài pēn quán páng biān wán shuǐ。
There is a fountain in the center of the square. Children are playing with water next to the fountain.
Mini dialogue
市中心
A
请问，市中心怎么走？
Qǐngwèn, shì zhōngxīn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the city center?
B
一直往前走，就能看到市中心。
Yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu, jiù néng kàn dào shì zhōngxīn.
Go straight ahead, and you will see the city center.
活动中心
A
下午我们去活动中心玩吧。
Xiàwǔ wǒmen qù huódòng zhōngxīn wán ba.
Let's go to the activity center to play this afternoon.
B
好，活动中心有很多好玩的。
Hǎo, huódòng zhōngxīn yǒu hěnduō hǎowán de.
Okay, the activity center has many fun things.
Related words and contrasts
similar
中央
zhōng yāng
center; central
中央 also means center, often used for the central part of a place or organization.
similar
核心
hé xīn
core; nucleus
核心 means the core or most important part, similar to 中心.
opposite
边缘
biān yuán
edge; periphery
边缘 means the edge or fringe, opposite of 中心 (center).