Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
In the middle of, during, at the very moment when
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that an unexpected or often inconvenient event occurred while another action or state was in progress, especially at its peak or a critical point.
📋 Grammar Structure
V（辞書形）+ 最中に
Noun + の + 最中に
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used, but the nuance of disruption might make other expressions more neutral depending on the context.
Informal Situations
Frequently used to express the suddenness or inconvenience of an interruption.
Written Language
Common in narrative writing to describe unexpected events.
Spoken Language
Very common in daily conversation to describe interruptions or sudden occurrences.
💡 Common Applications
Describing unexpected interruptions
Used to highlight that something happened and disrupted an ongoing activity.
Example: スピーチをしている最中に、停電になった。(While I was in the middle of giving my speech, there was a power outage.)
Expressing surprise or inconvenience
Often carries a nuance that the second event was surprising, unwelcome, or inconvenient because it happened exactly at that time.
Example: 良いところを見ている最中に、友達から電話がかかってきた。(Right when I was watching the good part, a call came from my friend.)
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Frequency
Moderately frequent, especially when describing unexpected events or interruptions.
Difficulty
N3
Example Sentences
シャワーを浴びている最中に、誰かがドアをノックした。
While I was in the middle of taking a shower, someone knocked on the door.
テストを受けている最中に、お腹が痛くなった。
While I was in the middle of taking the test, my stomach started to hurt.
引っ越し作業の最中に、雨が降り出した。
In the middle of the moving work, it started to rain.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Focus on the Peak Moment
最中に emphasizes that the second event happened exactly when the first action/state was at its peak, in progress, or at a critical moment, often highlighting the disruption caused.
Example: 食事をしている最中に、呼び出された。(I was called out right in the middle of eating.) – This implies you were actively eating, not just “during mealtime”.
Unexpected or Disruptive Second Event
The second event that occurs while the first is happening is typically something unexpected, sudden, or inconvenient.
Example: 勉強している最中に、友達が遊びに来た。(While I was in the middle of studying, my friend came to visit.) – The visit was likely unexpected or interrupted the study flow.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for planned or expected events
✅ Use other expressions like 〜間に or 〜ときに for general timing without the nuance of sudden, disruptive interruption.
最中に strongly implies an unexpected element. If something was planned to happen during an activity, 最中に sounds unnatural.
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly informal depending on context, but grammatically applicable in various settings.
Social Situations: Often used when complaining about or recounting an inconvenient event.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜最中に vs. 〜間に
最中に emphasizes the *peak* or *critical* moment of an action/state when an *unexpected/disruptive* event occurs. 〜間に simply means “during” a period, and the second event can be planned or unplanned.
When to use: Use 〜最中に for sudden, disruptive interruptions at a key moment. Use 〜間に for general events happening within a timeframe.
〜最中に vs. 〜ている間に
〜ている間に is similar but more neutral, simply stating something happened while an action was ongoing. 最中に adds the nuance of the moment being peak/critical and the interruption being sudden/disruptive.
When to use: Use 最中に when the interruption feels significant or inconvenient. Use 〜ている間に for less emphasized simultaneous actions or events.
〜最中に vs. 〜ところに
〜ところに also indicates something happening at a specific point in time or situation. 最中に focuses more directly on being *in the middle* of an action/state.
When to use: 〜ところに often feels like “just as X was about to happen” or “at the point where Y was”, while 最中に is strictly “in the very middle of Y happening”.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Verbs: Dictionary form (Vる) + 最中に Nouns: Noun + の + 最中に
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
さいちゅうに (saichuu ni). Pay attention to the long “uu” sound.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「最中」as the “most in the middle” or “very center” of an action or situation, which makes the unexpected interruption more impactful.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: 宿題をしてiru ( )、友達からメッセージが来た。
に
の
へ
が
Fill in the blank: 運転している（ ）、急に前の車が止まった。
ところに
うちに
最中に
あいだに
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