NounsHSK 5
Expressing "among" with 当中
Put 当中 after a group noun to say 'among' or 'of' that group, often with a superlative like 最 (most). For example, 我所有朋友当中最聪明的一个 (the smartest one among all my friends). It's a formal, written-style way to single out extremes.
Use 在 + process/activity + 当中 to mean 'in the process of', like 'under consideration' or 'being designed'. This is common in formal speech and writing. Don't confuse 当中 in this usage with the locational 中; it always follows the process noun directly.
Structure
(在) + Group + 当中
used to single out extremes within a group, often with 最
在 + Process + 当中
indicates that something is in the process of happening
Examples
- 你是我所有朋友当中最聪明的一个。Nǐ shì wǒ suǒyǒu péngyou dāngzhōng zuì cōngming de yī gè.Of all of my friends, you are the smartest one.
- 他们当中很多都是上海人。Tāmen dāngzhōng hěn duō dōu shì Shànghǎi rén.Among them, there are many Shanghainese.
- 五个人当中有一个人是小偷。Wǔ gè rén dāngzhōng yǒu yī gè rén shì xiǎotōu.Of the five people, one of them is a thief.
- 这个工程还在计划当中。Zhège gōngchéng hái zài jìhuà dāngzhōng.This engineering project is still in the planning stage.
- 现在还在调查当中，还不知道结果。Xiànzài hái zài diàochá dāngzhōng , hái bù zhīdào jiéguǒ.It still under investigation, so the result is not yet known.