How to Say “Among” with 当中 (dāngzhōng)
当中 (dāngzhōng) means “among / of,” and it comes after its noun (Group + 当中), usually leading to a superlative or a pick: 我所有朋友当中，你最聪明 (“of all my friends, you're the smartest”). It also marks being in the middle of a formal, ongoing process: 项目还在讨论当中 (“still under discussion”). Keep it apart from 其中 (“among the aforementioned,” no processes) and 中间 (the physical centre).
Why this trips learners up
当中 (dāngzhōng) means “among / of,” and the first thing to notice is that it's a postposition: it comes after its noun, Group + 当中, where English puts “among” in front. You then usually pick out a member, most often with a superlative: 我所有朋友当中，你最聪明 (“of all my friends, you're the smartest”), 五个人当中有一个是小偷 (“of the five people, one is a thief”), 这几个选择当中，这个最划算 (“among these options, this one's the best value”).
Its second use is temporal: 当中 marks being in the middle of an ongoing, usually formal, process. The frame is 还在 / 正在 + Process + 当中: 这个项目还在讨论当中 (“the project is still under discussion”), 事故的原因还在调查当中 (“the cause is still under investigation”), 新产品正在研发当中 (“the product is in development”). Think planning, negotiating, investigating, considering, developing, the kind of drawn-out formal process you'd describe as “in progress.”
Now the two neighbours learners mix it up with. First, 其中 (qízhōng). It also translates as “among,” but it means “among the aforementioned / of which,” pointing back to a group you've already named, and it typically heads the second clause: 我有很多朋友，其中你最可靠 (“I have many friends; of them, you're the most reliable”). 当中 attaches straight to the group noun (朋友当中); 其中 refers back to one already on the table. And crucially, 其中 cannot be used for a process: “still under discussion” is 讨论当中, never 讨论其中.
Second, 中间 (zhōngjiān). That's the physical, geometric centre of a space, or the gap between two distinct things: 客厅中间有一张桌子 (“there's a table in the middle of the living room”). 当中 does not do physical centres, it's about being among a collective or in the midst of a process. So three words, three jobs: among this group or mid-process → 当中; among a group already mentioned → 其中; the physical middle → 中间.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zhèxiē rén 这些人 Other dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern tā niánjì zuì dà 他年纪最大 Other
Among these people, he's the oldest (sense 1: among a group + superlative).
wǒ suǒyǒu de lǎoshī 我所有的老师 Other dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern tā duì wǒ yǐngxiǎng zuì dà 她对我影响最大 Other
Of all my teachers, she influenced me the most (所有…当中).
zhè jǐ ge xuǎnzé 这几个选择 Other dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern zhège zuì huásuàn 这个最划算 Other
Among these few options, this one's the best value (a set + a pick).
zàichǎng de guānzhòng 在场的观众 Other dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern yǒu bù shǎo shì tā de fěnsī 有不少是他的粉丝 Other
Among the audience present, quite a few are his fans (在 + group + 当中 + 有…).
wǒmen bān 我们班 Other dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern zhǐyǒu liǎng ge rén kǎo jígé le 只有两个人考及格了 Other
In our class, only two people passed (a group + 只有…).
zhège xiàngmù hái zài 这个项目还在 Other tǎolùn 讨论 Verb dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern méiyǒu zuìhòu juédìng 没有最后决定 Other
This project is still under discussion, no final decision yet (sense 2: 还在 + process + 当中).
shìgù de yuányīn hái zài 事故的原因还在 Other diàochá 调查 Verb dāngzhōng 当中 Pattern
The cause of the accident is still under investigation (还在调查当中).
xīn chǎnpǐn zhèngzài 新产品正在 Other yánfā 研发 Verb dāngzhōng 当中， Pattern yùjì míngnián shàngshì 预计明年上市 Other
The new product is in development, expected to launch next year (正在研发当中).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 当中 means “among a group,” not the physical centre of a space, that's 中间. “There's a table in the middle of the living room” is 客厅中间有一张桌子, not 客厅当中. Use 中间 for a geometric centre or the gap between two things; use 当中 for being among a collective.
Why it happens: A process takes 当中 (or 中), never 其中. 还在讨论其中 is wrong, because 其中 only means “among an already-mentioned group” and can't mark an activity in progress. “Still under discussion” is 还在讨论当中. Save 其中 for “of which,” pointing back to a named set.
Why it happens: 当中 is a postposition: it follows its group, unlike English “among.” It's 这些人当中他最高 (“among these people he's the tallest”), not 当中这些人. Put the group first, then 当中.
Compare & contrast
| 当中 dāngzhōng (among a group, attaches to it; also “in the middle of” a process) | 其中 qízhōng (among the AFOREMENTIONED, refers back to a group already named; not for processes) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我的朋友当中，你最可靠wǒ de péngyou dāngzhōng, nǐ zuì kěkào = “of all my friends, you’re the most reliable” (当中: attaches directly to the group noun 朋友, “among X”) | 我有很多朋友，其中你最可靠wǒ yǒu hěn duō péngyou, qízhōng nǐ zuì kěkào = “I have many friends; of them, you’re the most reliable” (其中: points back to the group just mentioned, “of which”) | 我的朋友当中，你最可靠 means “of all my friends, you're the most reliable,” 当中 attaching directly to the group noun 朋友, “among X.” 我有很多朋友，其中你最可靠 means “I have many friends; of them, you're the most reliable,” 其中 pointing back to the group just mentioned, “of which.” 当中 names the group with it; 其中 refers back to one already named. |
| 项目还在讨论当中xiàngmù hái zài tǎolùn dāngzhōng = “the project is still under discussion” (当中 also marks being in the middle of a formal, ongoing process) | 项目还在讨论其中xiàngmù hái zài tǎolùn qízhōng = WRONG: 其中 can’t mark a process; for “in the middle of” only 当中 (or 中) works | 项目还在讨论当中 means “the project is still under discussion,” 当中 marking being in the middle of a formal, ongoing process. 项目还在讨论其中 is wrong, because 其中 can't mark a process at all. For an activity in progress, only 当中 (or 中) works; 其中 is strictly “among the aforementioned.” |
Try it yourself
Say “Among these people, he's the tallest.” Use Group + 当中 + superlative.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Among” with 当中 (dāngzhōng) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.