Japanese word

最中

Pronunciation

Romajisaichū

Meaning

  • nounin the middle of

Example

映画の最中に寝てしまいました。ei ga no sai chū ni ne te shi ma i ma shi ta

I fell asleep in the middle of the movie.

Illustration for 最中 (in the middle of)

More examples

大事な話の最中に、彼は席を立ちました。dai ji na hanashi no sai chū ni kare wa seki o ta chi ma shi ta

He left his seat in the middle of an important conversation.

Core concept

Describes being within the central period of an ongoing event, often with the sense that the event is still unfolding.

Common phrases

  • 食事の最中shoku ji no sai chū

    in the middle of a meal

  • 話の最中hanashi no sai chū

    in the middle of a conversation

  • 会議の最中kai gi no sai chū

    in the middle of a meeting

Similar words

途中tochū: Refers to a point in a process or event before it is complete.
間aida: Refers to the period when an action or event continues.
中途chūto: Refers to a midway stage that has not reached its end.

Definition in Japanese

進行している物事の途中にある時点や期間。shin kō shi te i ru mono goto no to chū ni a ru ji ten ya ki kan

Word origin

最中 (saichū, "the very middle") combines 最 (sai, "most") and 中 (chū, "middle"), giving the sense of being at the central point of an ongoing event.

Usage tips

  • The spelling 最中 (saichū) also names the Japanese sweet 最中 (monaka), so the same kanji can represent two unrelated readings and meanings.

Opposites

Related words

  • 真っ最中massaichūright in the middlenoun

Word lists with this word