JLPT N3 grammar

〜最中（さいちゅう）meaning and usage

Meaning

In the middle of A

This point is also listed at N2.

How to form it

  • verb (te-form)いる最中（に/だ）
  • nounの最中（に/だ）

How it is used

'Right in the middle of A', usually followed by something unexpected that interrupts it. Compared with 「〜ている間」 or 「〜うちに」, it stresses that A was in full swing.

Examples

  1. つまらない授業の最中に寝てしまいました。

    I fell asleep in the middle of a boring lesson.

  2. 食事の最中に、電話が鳴った。

    The phone rang right in the middle of the meal.

  3. 会議をしている最中に、停電になった。

    The power went out right in the middle of the meeting.