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Read Japanese, beautifully.

N3

In the Middle Of: 〜最中に

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core meaning

〜最中に means “in the middle of …” and strongly emphasizes that an event occurs during an ongoing activity or state. It often sounds more vivid and immediate than 〜あいだに.

  1. Target signal

    会議の最中に、電話が鳴った。

    The phone rang in the middle of the meeting.

    最中に spotlights the interruption at the exact middle point.

    Vocabulary notes
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    会議かいぎ
    meeting
    電話でんわ
    telephone; phone call

  2. Compare in context

    勉強している最中に、友だちから連絡が来た。

    I got a message from a friend right in the middle of studying.

    The message arrives during an ongoing action, not merely sometime that day.

    Vocabulary notes
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    友だちともだち
    friend

Section 2 of 3

Nuance of interruption

This grammar is especially common when the middle event interrupts, disturbs, or sharply overlaps with the ongoing action. That is why it often appears in stories, reports, and descriptions of unexpected events.

  1. Target signal

    大事な話し合いの最中に、停電になった。

    There was a power outage in the middle of an important discussion.

    The power outage interrupts the discussion in midstream.

    Vocabulary notes
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    大事だいじ
    important; precious
    な
    sentence-ending particle; na

  2. Preview

    発表の最中に、資料が見つからなくなった。

    In the middle of the presentation, the handout could not be found.

    The problem happens right in the middle of the presentation.

    Vocabulary notes
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    から
    from; because
    発表はっぴょう
    announcement; presentation

Section 3 of 3

Reading notes

When you see 〜最中に, expect the sentence to spotlight timing. The writer wants you to feel the exact middle point of the action. This often increases drama, surprise, or inconvenience.

  1. Target signal

    料理の最中に、来客があった。

    Guests arrived in the middle of cooking.

    The guest arrival interrupts cooking at its midpoint.

    Vocabulary notes
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    料理りょうり
    cooking; dish; cuisine
    あ
    ah; oh

  2. Preview

    試験を受けている最中に、地震が起きた。

    An earthquake occurred in the middle of taking the exam.

    The earthquake is framed as a dramatic interruption during the exam.

    Vocabulary notes
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    最中に〜さいちゅうに
    in the middle of
    いる
    to exist; to be

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how 〜最中に changes the meaning before you check the translation.

会議の最中に、電話が鳴った。 勉強している最中に、友だちから連絡が来た。 大事な話し合いの最中に、停電になった。 発表の最中に、資料が見つからなくなった。 料理の最中に、来客があった。 試験を受けている最中に、地震が起きた。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。も

Show English translation

The phone rang in the middle of the meeting. I got a message from a friend right in the middle of studying. There was a power outage in the middle of an important discussion. In the middle of the presentation, the handout could not be found. Guests arrived in the middle of cooking. An earthquake occurred in the middle of taking the exam.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how 〜最中に changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how 〜最中に changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of 〜最中に in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

What does 〜最中に emphasize?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (〜最中に).

会議の＿＿＿、電話が鳴った。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1勉強している最中に、友だちから連絡が来た。
  2. 2大事な話し合いの最中に、停電になった。
  3. 3会議の最中に、電話が鳴った。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of 〜最中に in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

What does 〜最中に emphasize?