N340/219

最中に

V-ている最中にV-ている最中だNの最中に

Meanings

in the middle of
during
while something is happening

About this pattern

Explanation

最中に is used to describe an event that occurs during the middle of another ongoing action. It emphasizes that the main action is in progress when something else happens or when another event interrupts or coincides with it. It can attach to verbs in the -teiru form to show ongoing actions (e.g., eating, working) or to a noun phrase using の to indicate the ongoing situation.

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Example sentences

食事をしている最中に電話が鳴った。

The phone rang in the middle of eating.

授業の最中にノートを落としてしまった。

I dropped my notebook in the middle of class.

会議の最中に雨が降り出した。

It started to rain in the middle of the meeting.

彼は仕事をしている最中に席を外した。

He stepped out in the middle of working.

Related patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

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More N3 patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

while; during; between; in the period of

During the period of / while; Before something changes or happens; Within the time when ... happens

ないうちに

before it happens; before doing something becomes true; before it ends/advances; before it’s no longer possible; while still in the state of not ...