TAKOBOTO

center on, in the middle of
the center of our discussion

きょうのかいぎでこのぎだいをちゅうしんにぎろんをしましょう。

Let's make this matter the central topic of the discussion at today's meeting,

えきをちゅうしんにたくさんのしょうてんがあつまっている。

Centered around the station there are many stores.

ちゅうごくをかいがいてんかいけいかくのちゅうしんにぎろんしましょう

Let's make China the center of our overseas expansion plan discussion

このちほうをちゅうしんとして、さんちは、ほんしゅうのとうほくではさんれつに、おなじくせいなんではにれつにわかれてつらなっています。

Centered around this region, three separate mountain ranges extend towards north-east of Honshu, and two separate mountain ranges extend to the south-western part of Honshu

そのいえのことはすべてメアリーおばさんをちゅうしんにうごいていた。

Everything in that house revolved around Aunt Mary.

せかいけいざいはアメリカけいざいをちゅうしんにうごいているというじじつはだれもひていできない。

Nobody can deny the fact the world economy revolves around the American economy.

ひかくぶそうをちゅうしんにしたはなしあい。

Talks centering on nuclear disarmament.

ごぜんちゅうはぶんぽうをべんきょうする。ごごはかいわをちゅうしんにべんきょうすることになったいる。

In the morning used to study grammar, In the middle of after noon studying conversation as well.

わたしはかぞくをちゅうしんにものごとをかんがえている。

My interests are centered on my family.

focus を subject の　中心に する
china を meeting の　中心に する

= make china the center of the meeting

　中国<font color=red>を</font>議論<b>の</b><font color=red>中心に</font>しましょう
　lets make china <font color=red>the center</font> <b>of</b> our discussion

japanese native speakers will go "huh?" if you get your を and の mixed up - its like mixing "the" and "of"!

and this is a different word order:
　<font color=red>中国</font><b>を中心に</b>議論をする
　<font color=red>focus</font> <b>を中心に</b> discussion を suru
<font color=red>china</font> <b>as the center</b> lets discuss

dc

see [basis-of-action-group] for similar items and comparisons.

dc

In the first example, thye Japanese version is okay but the English version should be modified. "In the middle of the station" sounds like all shops are "in" the station. It should be 駅の周りに. However, that deviates from を中心に. I suggest deletion of the first example.

bamboo4

You can probably say as English translation of the first example, "centered around the station" and you don't have to delete it. I think though that translation is kind of awkward.

bamboo4

Perhaps literally this is "taking the station as the center there are lots of shops"

dc

As for the second example, overseas expansion plan would be 海外発展計画 or 海外展開計画. Please check 海外拠点 in ALC(www.alc.co.jp).

Miki

毎度！修理しました！

dc

Hooray!

bamboo4

boo! one more correction. 中国を 海外展開計画_の_中心に 議論しましょう

Miki

boo back! I think i got it. but please check the last example in notes above - not sure why there are two items with を - implies two subjects does it not?

dc

中国を中心に議論しましょう = OK?
中国を中心に議論をしましょう = needs を ?

dc

You can have を particularly as an emphasis.
As a refinement of 中国を中心に議論しましょう, you can consider 中国を中心に置いて（中心として）議論しましょう. Don't get me wrong,the example as shown is OK.

bamboo4

ex3209 When you say 東北日本、西南日本, it means Northeast part and southeast part of Japanese archipelago divided in the line from Itoigawa糸魚川, Niigata Pref. to Shizuoka.

Miki

Instaed of 「この地方を中心として、山地は、東北日本では三列に、西南日本では二列に分かれて連なっています。」, how about 「この地方を中心として、東北側では3列に、西南部では2列に山脈が連なっています。」?

Miki

あっ、しまった。 西南側 is beeter for consistency.

Miki

First example is a literal physical centre - with 'in the centre of' meaning, second is a metaphorical centre - with the 'centre on' meaning.

Amatuka

I edited #3209. If anyone does not like what I did, just holler.

bamboo4

まあ、この辺りでいいんじゃないですか。

bamboo4

を is used to mark a noun or noun phrase.

N = noun.

Amatuka