가운데
gaunde · TOPIK 1
middle, center
🎯 가운데 = 가운 (middle, as in 한가운데) + 데 (place): the middle place
데 is the Korean bound noun for place or spot, the same one in 가는 데 (the place you go). 가운 comes from an older word for half or middle, also the root of 가위 in 한가위 (Chuseok, the mid-autumn day). So 가운데 is literally the middle spot.