What are the differences between 真ん中, 中心 and 中央?

Question

Could someone please explain the differences in usage and meaning? It would be nice with some example sentences as well.

Answer 1

Definitions mostly taken from Goo/デジタル大辞泉（小学館）

真ん中 is the most limited of the three. It only applies to 距離・場所・順序など and means the exact center/middle.

• 町の真ん中にある建物
• 三人兄弟の真ん中

中央 includes the definition of 真ん中. It also means ある組織や機関の中で、最も重要な機能をになっているところ. That is to the say sub-organizations that are centrally important to an organization. For example,

党の中央

references the central/ruling committee of a party. Accordingly, it can also refer to the central/national government.

中心 includes the definition of 真ん中, but also includes a few other definitions of note.

1. 物事の集中する場所。また、最も重要な位置にある物や人。また、その位置。
   • 大阪を中心とした関西の特徴 means with Osaka as the central example, the unique characteristics of Kansai region.
   • 話題の中心 means a central/major topic of conversation.
2. The center of a circle:
3. The barycenter/center of gravity in physics. 質量中心. It is also called 重心
4. こころの内。心中{しんちゆう}. The inside of your heart.