What does 중 (jung) mean?

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In Korean, "중" (haneun jung) is used to indicate that someone is doing or is working on something. For example, if someone says "공부하는 중" (gongbu haneun jung), it means they are studying. So, this phrase is used to express the activity or action being performed at the time of speaking.
If you pay attention, the above sentence has the same meaning as the progressive sentence which uses the word ~ 고 있다 as to be "am/is/are". 
Example:
1. 나는 먹고 있어 and 나는 먹는 중이 야 
    (I am eating, both have the same meaning)
2. 나는 공부 하고 있어 and 나는 공부 하는 중이 야 
    (I am studying, both have the same meaning)

Other times you may find "중" used right after the noun of a verb without using ~는 것. Nouns which are used in this situation usually have a a word-ending at the end of the word 하다. In this case, 하다 can be dropped and replaced with 중.
Example:
1. 나는 공부 하는 중이 야 = I am studying
2. 저는 샤워 하는 중 이에요 = I am showering

Before delving deeper into the different uses of 중 in different sentences, let's improve our understanding of how we can use "~하는 동안," as well as the use of 하는 중.

While/For a moment ~하는 동안

In Korean Adverb of Place Lesson, we studied the word 동안 after adverb of time which means "during."
As an example:
  • 2 시간 동안 운항 했어요 = The plane flew for 2 hours
  • 5분 동안 자고 있어요 = I've been sleeping for 5 minutes
We can also use 동안 as a noun in ~는 것, which is similar to the use of 중. The moment we would say this sentence, we would make the sentence mean "when I..." For example:
1. 내가 밥을 먹는 동안 열쇠를 잊어 버린 것을 깨달았어
(While I was eating, I realized that my keys were missing)
2. 영화 를 보는 동안 다른 사람들 이 너무 시끄러 웠어요
(The other person was very noisy while I was watching the movie)

These are pretty simple grammar principles which can be used in many contexts. Now, let's move on to learn more about 중.

Of all…: ~ 중

When 중 is placed after the noun of two nouns or more, 중 stands for "those things...." As example:
  • 나의 남동생 3 명 중에… = Of all my younger brothers…
  • 나의 친구들 중에… = Of all my friends…
  • 이용 가능한 모든 열차 중에... = Of all the available trains...

Some points that we need to consider:

Take note of the phrase's meaning. The sentence is not a complete statement, but you may fill in the remaining words as you wish. When we put 중 after a proper noun made up of two or more different objects, then it means "of these objects..." The last part of the phrase usually describes something about one of them:
1. 나의 남동생 3 명 중에 그는 가장 똑똑해 (Of all my younger brothers, he is the smartest)
2. 나의 친구들 중에 나는 슬기 를 가장 좋아해요 (Of all my friends, I like Seulgi the most)


Please note that 에 appears after 중 in this grammatical form. It will always have to be present.

The structures of sentences where "중에" is slotted after a simple noun are pretty easy. However, "중에" can also be placed after nouns that have been made using the ~는 것 principles. For example:
모든 가수 중에 .. means "of all singers ..."

Notice that 에 comes after 중 in this grammatical form. It must always be there.

Read  Also: Simple Continuous in Korean

The sentence structure in which "중에" is positioned after a simple noun is very easy. However, "중에" may also be placed after a noun that has been made using the ~는 것 principle. For example:
모든가수 중에.. meaning "of all the singers..."

But if you want to specifically said "of all the singers (that) I have watched," then you need to use the principle of ~는 것 to describe 가수:

내가 아는 가수 = Singers I know / Singers I have ever known
내가 아는 가수 중에 ... of all the singers I have ever known

However, if it is followed by "중에," it is assumed that you are talking about multiple persons as "중에" always stands for "of all..."

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