zung1 jung4中庸

Jyutpingzung1 jung4

Yalejūng yùhng

形容詞

Definition

The golden mean or middle way in Confucian philosophy; also mediocre or ordinary.

literarythe golden mean or doctrine of the mean in Confucianism
ordinary; mediocre; middle-of-the-road

neutraldescriptionspeople

How it's used

Originally a core Confucian concept referring to the virtue of balance and avoiding extremes, the term has evolved in modern Cantonese to often carry a slightly dismissive tone. When describing a person or an idea as 中庸, it frequently implies a lack of ambition, innovation, or a tendency to play it safe to avoid conflict.

Examples

keoi5佢zou6做jan4人hou2好zung1中jung4庸，m4唔zung1鍾ji3意ceot1出fung1風tau4頭。

He is very moderate in his ways and does not like to stand out.

ni1呢go3個fong1方on3案taai3太zung1中jung4庸，mou5冇mat1乜dak6特bit6別zi1之cyu3處。

This proposal is too mediocre and lacks anything special.

Common phrases

zung1中jung4庸zi1之dou3道

the doctrine of the mean

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the English word mediocre in a purely negative sense, as it still retains a nuance of deliberate moderation or balance in certain formal contexts.