Japanese word

途中

Pronunciation

Romajitochū

Meaning

  • nounon the way

Example

家に帰る途中で友達に会いました。ie ni kae ru to chū de tomo dachi ni a i ma shi ta

I met a friend on the way home.

Illustration for 途中 (on the way)

More examples

仕事の途中で、休憩を取りました。shi goto no to chū de kyū kei o to ri ma shi ta

I took a break in the middle of my work.

Core concept

It presents movement as an unfinished stretch, with the person or action still between departure and arrival.

Common phrases

  • 帰る途中kae ru to chū

    on the way home

  • 途中でto chū de

    on the way

  • 旅行の途中ryo kō no to chū

    in the middle of a trip

Similar words

道中dōchū: The course of a journey from departure to arrival.
中途chūto: A point reached before a process or journey is complete.
途上tojō: A stage in an ongoing journey, process, or development.

Definition in Japanese

目的地へ向かう移動の中で、到着前にある時点や場所。moku teki chi e mu ka u i dō no naka de tō chaku mae ni a ru ji ten ya ba sho

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 途中 (tochū) joins 途 (to, "route") with 中 (chū, "inside" or "middle"), giving the sense of being within a route before its end.

Usage tips

  • English "midway" often suggests the middle point, while 途中 (tochū) can refer to any point before arrival.

Other meanings

  • midwaynoun

Word lists with this word