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The meeting is still going when the screen suddenly goes blank. At the red event, the meeting has started but has not yet ended.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 3

〜最中に~ saichuu ni

right in the middle of

Use 「〜最中に」 for something that happens while an activity is in progress, often unexpectedly.

How it works

  1. The meeting is still going when the screen suddenly goes blank. At the red event, the meeting has started but has not yet ended.

    The meeting is still going when the screen suddenly goes blank. At the red event, the meeting has started but has not yet ended.

  2. 「最中に」 emphasizes “right in the middle of doing something.” It is often followed by a sudden or unexpected event.

    「最中に」 emphasizes “right in the middle of doing something.” It is often followed by a sudden or unexpected event.

  3. With verbs, use 「ている最中に」, as in 「洗濯している最中に」. This shows that the action is in progress.

    With verbs, use 「ている最中に」, as in 「洗濯している最中に」. This shows that the action is in progress.

  4. With nouns naming activities, use 「の最中に」, as in 「会議の最中に」. Put の between the noun and 最中.

    With nouns naming activities, use 「の最中に」, as in 「会議の最中に」. Put の between the noun and 最中.

  5. In the example, the strange noise occurs while the laundry is being done. 最中 emphasizes being in the midst of the activity, not necessarily exactly halfway through it.

    In the example, the strange noise occurs while the laundry is being done. 最中 emphasizes being in the midst of the activity, not necessarily exactly halfway through it.

Example sentences

  • オンラインおんらいんonrain会議かいぎkaigiをoしshiてteいるiru最中さいちゅうsaichuuに、ni、パソコンぱそこんpasokonのno画面がめんgamenがga急きゅうkyuuに消えました。にきえました。nikiemashita。

    While I was in the middle of an online meeting, the computer screen suddenly went blank.

  • 洗濯せんたくsentakuしshiてteいるiru最中さいちゅうsaichuuに、ni、洗濯せんたくsentaku機きkiからkara変へんhenな音なおとnaotoがga

In a conversation

  • A
    お風呂おふろに入っはいっている最中さいちゅうに、給湯器きゅうとうきのボタンぼたんがカチカチかちかちと鳴っなって消えたきえたんです。

    A: While I was in the middle of taking a bath, the water heater button clicked a few times and went off.

  • B
    それはわ大変でしたたいへんでしたね。何なんか不具合ふぐあいの症状しょうじょうが表示ひょうじされていましたか。

    B: That must have been tough. Did it display any symptoms of a malfunction?

  • A
    いいえ、特にとくに何なんも表示ひょうじされなかったので、明日あす管理かんり会社かいしゃに連絡れんらくして状態じょうたいを確認かくにんし

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    In the middle of an online meeting, the computer screen suddenly went out.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    オンライン会議をしている____、パソコンの画面が急に消えました。

    In the middle of an online meeting, the computer screen suddenly went off.

More grammar in this theme

  • 〜といえばspeaking of; typical association
  • 〜というとtopic association
  • 〜べきだ／〜べきではないshould / should not
  • 〜ほど〜はないnothing is as … as
  • 〜（より）ほかない／〜（より）ほかしかたがないhave no other choice
  • 〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだunchanged since then
  • 〜最中にright in the middle of
  • 〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かけるstarted but unfinished
  • 〜ざるを得ないhave no choice but to
  • 〜を契機にas a trigger for change
  • 〜をめぐってconcerning an issue
  • 〜上のrelated to an aspect
  • 〜上from a certain perspective
Previous〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだNext〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かける

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Intermediate 3
Science, Technology, and Society
しました。shimashita。

While I was doing the laundry, the washing machine made a strange noise.

て
もらいます。

A: No, nothing in particular was displayed, so I will contact the management company tomorrow to have them check its status.