中
Meanings
- during
- while
- throughout
- in the process of
About this pattern
Explanation
中 is used to express that something is happening during or in the course of another ongoing action or situation. It often follows a verb in ている form or a noun indicating the time frame. It emphasizes that you are within the period of the action, rather than at its start or end. In natural use, 中 can combine with で/に to indicate location or context within which something occurs, and with 最中 to stress the exact middle of something.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I am in the middle of studying.
The phone rang in the middle of the meeting.
He was waiting outside in the rain.
A new issue came up during the progress of the project.
Keep studying
More N3 patterns
It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X
View detailsIt would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...
View detailswhile; during; between; in the period of
View detailsDuring the period of / while; Before something changes or happens; Within the time when ... happens
View detailsbefore it happens; before doing something becomes true; before it ends/advances; before it’s no longer possible; while still in the state of not ...
View detailsMust; Should; Ought to
View details