How to Say “Between/Among” in Chinese?

When learning Mandarin Chinese, expressing relationships or locations between things is a very useful skill. In English, we often use “between” or “among” to describe positions, choices, or relationships. Chinese has several ways to convey these meanings depending on context.

Understanding how to use them correctly will help you sound much more natural when speaking or writing. In this post, we will explore the most common expressions for “between” and “among” in Chinese, with plenty of examples to practice.

1. Between — 之间 (zhī jiān)

The word 之间 (zhī jiān) is used to indicate “between” or “among” when talking about two or more people, things, or abstract concepts. It is very formal and often used in writing, official language, or clear descriptions.

Structure:
Noun1 + 之间 + Noun2

Example sentences:
我和你之间有秘密 (wǒ hé nǐ zhī jiān yǒu mìmì) – There is a secret between you and me
他们之间有很深的友谊 (tāmen zhī jiān yǒu hěn shēn de yǒuyì) – There is a deep friendship among them
公司与客户之间的合同 (gōngsī yǔ kèhù zhī jiān de hétóng) – The contract between the company and the client (公司, gōngsī; 客户, kèhù; 合同, hétóng)

You can also use 之间 to talk about abstract ideas:
经济发展与环境保护之间有矛盾 (jīngjì fāzhǎn yǔ huánjìng bǎohù zhī jiān yǒu máodùn) – There is a conflict between economic development and environmental protection (经济发展, jīngjì fāzhǎn; 环境保护, huánjìng bǎohù)

2. Among/Between — 在…中 (zài…zhōng)

Another common way to say “among” or “in the midst of” is 在…中 (zài…zhōng). This structure emphasizes being “inside” a group or location.

Structure:
在 + Noun + 中 + Verb/Adjective

Example sentences:
在朋友中，我最喜欢他 (zài péngyǒu zhōng, wǒ zuì xǐhuan tā) – Among my friends, I like him the most
在学生中，她很受欢迎 (zài xuéshēng zhōng, tā hěn shòu huānyíng) – She is very popular among the students (学生, xuéshēng; 受欢迎, shòu huānyíng)
在桌子中间有一个花瓶 (zài zhuōzi zhōngjiān yǒu yí gè huāpíng) – There is a vase in the middle of the table (桌子, zhuōzi; 花瓶, huāpíng)

Note: 中 (zhōng) can also be used in more abstract senses:
在讨论中，他们提出了很多问题 (zài tǎolùn zhōng, tāmen tíchū le hěn duō wèntí) – During the discussion, they raised many questions (讨论, tǎolùn; 提出, tíchū; 问题, wèntí)

3. Middle/Center — 中间 (zhōng jiān)

中间 (zhōng jiān) is a very common expression that literally means “middle” or “center”. It can describe spatial relationships, positions, or metaphorical relationships.

Structure:
Noun + 中间 + Verb/Position

Example sentences:
椅子在桌子中间 (yǐzi zài zhuōzi zhōngjiān) – The chair is in the middle of the table (椅子, yǐzi)
他站在两个人中间 (tā zhàn zài liǎng gè rén zhōngjiān) – He stands between two people
中间有一个小公园 (zhōngjiān yǒu yí gè xiǎo gōngyuán) – There is a small park in the center (小公园, xiǎo gōngyuán)

4. Among/Within a Group — 当中 (dāng zhōng)

当中 (dāng zhōng) is used to emphasize being “among” a certain group, often highlighting one particular member or subset of the group. It is very common in spoken Mandarin.

Example sentences:
他在学生当中很聪明 (tā zài xuéshēng dāng zhōng hěn cōngmíng) – He is very smart among the students
在朋友当中，她最开朗 (zài péngyǒu dāng zhōng, tā zuì kāilǎng) – Among my friends, she is the most cheerful
在同事当中，他最有经验 (zài tóngshì dāng zhōng, tā zuì yǒu jīngyàn) – Among colleagues, he has the most experience (同事, tóngshì; 经验, jīngyàn)

5. Between Two Things — 对…之间 (duì…zhī jiān)

For relationships, negotiations, or comparisons between two parties, you may see the structure 对…之间 (duì…zhī jiān). It emphasizes a directional or relational aspect.

Example sentences:
对公司与员工之间的关系很重要 (duì gōngsī yǔ yuángōng zhī jiān de guānxì hěn zhòngyào) – The relationship between the company and employees is very important
对朋友之间要互相理解 (duì péngyǒu zhī jiān yào hùxiāng lǐjiě) – Among friends, mutual understanding is important
政府与人民之间的沟通很关键 (zhèngfǔ yǔ rénmín zhī jiān de gōutōng hěn guānjiàn) – Communication between the government and the people is crucial (政府, zhèngfǔ; 人民, rénmín; 沟通, gōutōng)

Tips for Using “Between/Among” Expressions

1. Use 之间 (zhī jiān) for formal or written Chinese — especially in essays, reports, or official statements.
2. Use 中 (zhōng) or 中间 (zhōng jiān) for spatial or abstract positions — describing location, “in the middle”, or during events.
3. Use 当中 (dāng zhōng) for spoken emphasis — to highlight a person or item within a group.
4. Combine with numbers for clarity — e.g., 两个人之间 (liǎng gè rén zhī jiān) – between two people.
5. Practice with objects, people, and abstract ideas — the more examples you try, the more natural it will feel.

Vocabulary

1. 之间 (zhī jiān) – between, among
2. 中 (zhōng) – in, inside, among
3. 中间 (zhōng jiān) – middle, center
4. 当中 (dāng zhōng) – among, within a group
5. 对 (duì) – toward, regarding
6. 椅子 (yǐzi) – chair
7. 桌子 (zhuōzi) – table
8. 学生 (xuéshēng) – student
9. 公司 (gōngsī) – company
10. 朋友 (péngyǒu) – friend