<p>it's zhōng, according to 國語辭典:</p>

<p><a href="http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&amp;searchid=Z00000120693" rel="nofollow">http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&amp;searchid=Z00000120693</a></p>

<p>in cantonese, it jung1 (sydney lay scheme)</p>

<p><a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E4%B8%AD" rel="nofollow">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=中</a></p>

<p>sound file: <a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/sound/zung1.Mp3" rel="nofollow">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/sound/zung1.Mp3</a></p>

<p>方者﹒才也﹒始也; roughly "only then"</p>

<p>have fun :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-20T21:49:19.480Z
2016-04-20T21:49:19.480Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>First tone, when you use it to mean 'middle', 'middle of', 'centre'.</p>

<p>When it is pronounced in the fourth tone, it typically means "got it". For example, when you check your lottery ticket and you've won.</p>

<p>I double checked with this <a href="http://yun.dreye.com/dict_new/dict.php" rel="nofollow">Source</a> and it looks like I got it. Here are more specifics:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>拼音: zhong (first tone)<br>
  注音: ㄓㄨㄥ<br>
  center; middle<br>
  in; inside; among<br>
  in between<br>
  average, mean, or middle (class, grade, etc.)<br>
  in the course of<br>
  fit for    </p>
  
  <p>拼音: zhong (4th tone)<br>
  注音: ㄓㄨㄥˋ<br>
  to hit (a target)<br>
  to suffer; to sustain<br>
  以上來源於：《漢英大辭典》</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-23T18:21:36.173Z
2016-04-23T18:21:36.173Z
judester
<p>I'm unsure whether the 中 in this phrase is to be in the first or fourth tone:</p>

<p>吃得苦中苦，方为人上人.</p>

<p>Also, what exactly does 方 mean in this saying?</p>

<p>Thank you, 
Rachel</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-20T21:38:28.700Z
中zhong１（from meaning derived from context)

see jukuu：


1.  "If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the Bitterest of the Bitter"
 吃得苦中苦,方为人上人
 
-- 来源 -- 英汉 - 翻译样例 - 习语  好评(10)  差评(0)   
  
2.  Hardship increases stature
 吃得苦中苦方为人上人, for possible meanings of 方 see dictionaries and above translations
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-21T05:04:02.543Z
方：始：(to begin; to start; then; only then)，details at http://chengyu.xpcha.com/b57n61ckxal.html
user6065
<grammar><tones>
Question about the use of 中 (first or fourth tone)?
# Question about the use of 中 (first or fourth tone)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-20)

I'm unsure whether the 中 in this phrase is to be in the first or fourth tone:

吃得苦中苦，方为人上人.

Also, what exactly does 方 mean in this saying?

Thank you,
username_0

**Tags:** grammar, tones

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 中zhong１（from meaning derived from context)  see jukuu：   1.  "If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the Bitterest of the Bitter"  吃得苦中苦,方为人上人   -- 来源 -- 英汉 - 翻译样例 - 习语  好评(10)  差评(0)       2.  Hardship increases stature  吃得苦中苦方为人上人, for possible meanings of 方 see dictionaries and above translations  
> **username_1**: 方：始：(to begin; to start; then; only then)，details at http://chengyu.xpcha.com/b57n61ckxal.html  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-04-20. Score: 3

it's zhōng, according to 國語辭典:

<http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000120693>

in cantonese, it jung1 (sydney lay scheme)

[http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=中](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E4%B8%AD)

sound file: <http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/sound/zung1.Mp3>

方者﹒才也﹒始也; roughly "only then"

have fun :)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-04-23. Score: 2

First tone, when you use it to mean 'middle', 'middle of', 'centre'.

When it is pronounced in the fourth tone, it typically means "got it". For example, when you check your lottery ticket and you've won.

I double checked with this [Source](http://yun.dreye.com/dict_new/dict.php) and it looks like I got it. Here are more specifics:

> 拼音: zhong (first tone)  
> 注音: ㄓㄨㄥ  
> center; middle  
> in; inside; among  
> in between  
> average, mean, or middle (class, grade, etc.)  
> in the course of  
> fit for
>
> 拼音: zhong (4th tone)  
> 注音: ㄓㄨㄥˋ  
> to hit (a target)  
> to suffer; to sustain  
> 以上來源於：《漢英大辭典》


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