GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜を中心に
Indicates that a range or activity is organized around a central person or thing.
Examples
地域の住民を中心に公園の利用法について意見を集めた。
We gathered opinions about how to use the park, mainly from local residents.
Words used
若い人を中心に新しい企画への意見を聞いた。
We asked mainly young people for their opinions on the new project.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Use
を中心に（をちゅうしんに）after the central target to mark the focus of an activity or range. - Basic usage:
若い人を中心に新しい企画への意見を聞いた。makes young people the main group consulted about the project.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A main group and an exclusive limit
若い人を中心に聞くcenters the inquiry on young people, while若い人だけに聞くrestricts it to them. Giving a group priority differs from excluding everyone else.
- Noun modification
住民を中心とする活動is a noun phrase for an activity centered on residents. Distinguish it from the form connecting to an action in住民を中心に活動する.