緣覺乘之異名。是在三乘之中位，故名。多論一曰：「小乘所得三乘同知，中乘所得二乘共知，唯佛所得二乘不知，獨佛自知。」法華文句四曰：「身子迦葉等，悉是中乘根性。」
The middle vehicle to nirvana, includes all intermediate or medial systems between Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna. It also corresponds with the state of a pratyekabuddha, who lives chiefly for his own salvation but partly for others, like a man sitting in the middle of a vehicle, leaving scarcely room for others. It is a definition made by Mahayanists unknown to Hīnayāna.