Learn interesting Chinese characters 上shang, 中zhong, 下xia- Chinese symbols

Let’s talk about 上(shang4), 中(zhong1) and 下(xia4) today.

上(shang4) means up or go up. Please look at the ancient oracle bone characters first, which was created over 3000 years ago, the original form of Chinese characters. Doesn’t it look like a mark to show up?

oracle bone shang4

It is just an up arrow like the one we use now. 

So you got the idea.

In the same way, you will know the other two characters 中(zhong1, which means middle center) and 下(xia4, which means down or go down)

oracle bone character for Down xia4

oracle bone character for middle zhong1

Some examples for Character 上（shang4）

上山（shànɡshān）Go up a mountain
上午（shànɡwǔ）morning
上车（shànɡchē）Get on a vehicle

Some examples for Character 中（zhong1）

中国（zhōnɡɡuó）China
中文（zhōnɡwén）Chinese，Mandarin
中心（zhōnɡxīn）center

The writing order of the 3 characters.

writing-order-chinese-character-symbol-shang4

writing-order-chinese-character-symbol-zhong1

writing-order-chinese-character-symbol-xia4