Central Europe
Geographical term referring to the central region of Europe. Common in news and academic contexts.
The countries of Central Europe have a rich history.
中欧 means Central Europe whereas 西欧 means Western Europe, so learners often confuse them due to their similar one-kanji-different form.
中欧 designates Central Europe while 南欧 designates Southern Europe, and their nearly identical structure makes them easy to confuse.
Compound of 中 (chū, 'central') and 欧 (ō, 'Europe'). The kanji 欧 is an abbreviation for 欧羅巴 (Yōroppa), an old ateji for Europe.