Proper noun
ちゅうごく
来月は、出ちょうで中国に行きます。
Next month I’m traveling to China on business.
冬休みに、中国でりゅう星ぐんを見ました。
During winter break, I watched the meteor shower in China.
どうして日本人は中国を支那と呼ぶことをやめて中国と呼び始めたんだろう。
Why did Japanese people stop calling China "Shina" and start calling it "Chuugoku?"
The middle country... who could that be? Let's think about it. Who invented kanji and therefore probably thinks they're the middle of the world? Who also is just a huge country that ruled much of Asia? That would be none other than China.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well. Just make sure you watch out for the rendaku.