“center” in Japanese is 央, read ou (おう). It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 中央 (center).
What does 央 mean?
公園の中央に木がある。
| Kanji | 央 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | center |
| Readings | おう |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 中央 (center) |
央 is read ou (おう) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: