中庸

zhōng yōng

CL 种 zhǒng

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Rare

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Definitions

1. the Doctrine of the Mean, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[sì shū]
2. (literary) (of person) mediocre
3. ordinary

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 杰出 jié chū 杰出 jié chū outstanding mediocre, ordinary: outstanding

Related words

1 item

• 四书 sì shū 四书 sì shū Four Books, namely: the Great Learning 大學|大学, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the Analects of Confucius 論語|论语, and Mencius 孟子 part of the Four Books: Four Books, namely: the Great Learning 大學|大学, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the Analects of Confucius 論語|论语, and Mencius 孟子

Synonyms

1 item

• 平庸 píng yōng 平庸 píng yōng mediocre mediocre, ordinary: mediocre

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not confuse the Confucian concept 中庸 (the Mean) with the negative connotation of "mediocre" in modern Chinese.

Formality

中庸 in the sense of "mediocre" is literary and rarely used in spoken Chinese; use 平庸 instead.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他提倡 中庸 之道。

He advocates the doctrine of the mean.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 中庸

• 中庸之道 中庸之道 zhōng yōng zhī dào: doctrine of the mean

Child Words of 中庸

• 中 中 zhōng: within
• 中 中 zhòng: to hit (the mark)
• 庸 庸 yōng: ordinary