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JLPT N3Expressions

を中心に(して)— Centering On

Indicates that something is the center or focal point of an activity, movement, or arrangement — 'centering on', 'mainly', or 'with ... at the core'. It can refer to a physical center, a central figure, or the main focus of an effort. The form を中心とする／を中心とした is used to modify a noun.

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Pro lessonUNIT 103 · EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Noun] + を中心に(して) ／ [Noun] + を中心とする・とした + [Noun]

Examples · 例文

  • この町は駅を中心に発展してきた。

    Kono machi wa eki o chuushin ni hatten shite kita.

    This town has developed centering on the station.

    駅 (station) + を中心に marks the focal point of the town's growth.

  • 彼女を中心にしてチームがまとまった。

    Kanojo o chuushin ni shite chiimu ga matomatta.

    The team came together with her at its center.

    彼女 (she) + を中心にして shows she is the central figure.

  • 若者を中心とした運動が広がっている。

    Wakamono o chuushin to shita undou ga hirogatte iru.

    A movement centered on young people is spreading.

    を中心とした modifies 運動 to describe its core participants.

Usage notes · 注意

  • を中心に(して) works adverbially; を中心とする／とした modifies a following noun.
  • Can describe a spatial center, a key person, or a main theme.
  • Register: neutral to formal, common in news and reports.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones を中心に(して) is tested against.

vsをめぐって

をめぐって frames a topic of dispute/discussion, while を中心に marks something as the focal core of an activity.

vsをもとに

をもとに means 'based on (a source/material)', whereas を中心に means an activity revolves around a central point.

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