中ちゅう堅けん

noun

nucleus; backbone; mainstay; key figure

Refers to the core people or elements that support an organization or group; often used for mid-career employees who are the driving force.

• 彼かれは会かい社しゃの中ちゅう堅けんとして活かつ躍やくしている。

  He is active as a mainstay of the company.

• 中ちゅう堅けん社しゃ員いんの育いく成せいが重じゅう要ようだ。

  Developing mid-career employees is important.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

medium-level; mid-level; middle-ranking; midsize

Describes something of intermediate rank, size, or level; commonly used for companies, positions, or tournaments.

• 中ちゅう堅けん企き業ぎょう向むけのセミナーを開かい催さいします。

  We will hold a seminar for midsize companies.

• 彼かれは中ちゅう堅けんの役やく職しょくに就ついている。

  He holds a middle-ranking position.

noun

main body (of troops); crack troops; select troops

Historical military term for the core or elite central unit of an army; rarely used in modern contexts outside historical descriptions.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だい、中ちゅう堅けんは大たい将しょうの直ちょく属ぞく部ぶ隊たいだった。

  In the Warring States period, the main body of troops was the direct unit of the general.

noun

center field; center fielder

Baseball term; refers to the center field position or the player who defends it.

• 彼かれは高こう校こう野や球きゅうで中ちゅう堅けんを守まもっていた。

  He played center field in high school baseball.

noun

middle-order competitor (in team matches)

Used in martial arts team competitions (kendo, judo, etc.) for the athlete who competes in the middle match; e.g., second in a 3-person team or third in a 5-person team.

See also: 先鋒 (せんぽう)

• 団だん体たい戦せんでは中ちゅう堅けんの勝しょう敗はいが鍵かぎを握にぎる。

  In team competitions, the outcome of the middle-order match holds the key.