目錄
Japanese 「〜最中に」 indicates that while something is in progress, another event occurs in the middle of it. Both 「〜最中に」 and 「〜ときに」 can be translated as “when” or “while,” but the scene they convey is slightly different. 「〜最中に」 focuses attention on the exact moment when an action is underway, and the following clause often describes something sudden, such as a phone call, earthquake, notification, or visitor. For example, 「会議の最中に電話が鳴りました」 does more than simply state the time. It gives the impression that the meeting was underway when the phone suddenly rang. This expression is commonly encountered in situations involving work, classes, meals, or concentrating on a task.
Why does Japanese 「〜最中に」 often carry a sense of interruption or something unexpected?
「最中」 originally refers to being right in the middle of something that is in progress. When 「に」 is added, the expression marks an ongoing stretch of time, after which another event is introduced. Because the event in the second clause often interrupts the action already in progress, 「〜最中に」 easily takes on a sense of interruption, disturbance, or something unexpected.
「勉強しているときに電話が来ました」 simply means that a phone call came while someone was studying. 「勉強している最中に電話が来ました」, however, places more emphasis on the fact that the call suddenly came while the person was in the middle of concentrating on their studies. This sense of being interrupted midway through something is the most important nuance of 「最中に」.
Japanese 「〜最中に」 attachment rules: how do you use the verb ている form and noun＋の?
「〜最中に」 can be used as 「verb ている form＋最中に」 or 「noun＋の＋最中に」. The verb ている form emphasizes that an action is currently in progress. The noun form is commonly used with activity nouns such as meetings, classes, meals, travel, and work. The following clause often contains unexpected events such as 「電話が鳴る」「地震が起きる」「声をかけられる」「問題が発生する」.
| Attachment pattern | Example | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Verb ている form＋最中に | 話している最中に | in the middle of speaking | 話している最中に電話が鳴る |
| Noun＋の＋最中に | 会議の最中に | while a meeting is in progress | 会議の最中に質問が出る |
| Typical following clause | unexpected event | interruption or intrusion | phone call, earthquake, visitor, problem |
| Main nuance | action in progress | something happens midway through | not a general-purpose time expression |
Usage ① of 「〜最中に」｜An unexpected event occurs while something is in progress
The most common use of 「〜最中に」 is to describe another event suddenly occurring while something is already in progress. The event in the second clause often interrupts the first action or changes the situation. Compared with 「〜ときに」, this usage places stronger emphasis on being right in the middle of an ongoing action.
- Example: 会議の最中に電話が鳴りました。
Kana: かいぎの さいちゅうに でんわが なりました。
Translation: The phone rang while the meeting was in progress.
「会議の最中に」 emphasizes that the phone interrupted the meeting while it was underway, giving the sentence a sense of disturbance. - Example: 食事の最中に地震が起きました。
Kana: しょくじの さいちゅうに じしんが おきました。
Translation: An earthquake occurred in the middle of the meal.
This sentence indicates that an unexpected event interrupted the situation while the meal was in progress. - Example: 説明している最中に質問が出ました。
Kana: せつめいしている さいちゅうに しつもんが でました。
Translation: A question came up while the explanation was in progress.
「説明している最中に」 makes the timing of the question more explicit.
Usage ② of 「〜最中に」｜Being interrupted while concentrating on something
「〜最中に」 is also well suited to situations in which someone is interrupted while concentrating on something, such as studying, working, writing, or organizing materials. In these cases, the following clause often refers to a phone call, notification, visitor, sound, or some other distraction. The point is not simply that two things happen at the same time, but that the state of concentration is interrupted.
- Example: 勉強している最中に友だちから連絡が来ました。
Kana: べんきょうしている さいちゅうに ともだちから れんらくが きました。
Translation: A friend contacted me while I was studying.
This sentence emphasizes that the message interrupted the state of studying. - Example: 資料を作っている最中にパソコンが止まりました。
Kana: しりょうを つくっている さいちゅうに パソコンが とまりました。
Translation: The computer stopped while I was preparing the materials.
「最中に」 makes the computer stopping sound like an unexpected problem that occurred in the middle of the work. - Example: 寝ている最中に大きな音で目が覚めました。
Kana: ねている さいちゅうに おおきな おとで めが さめました。
Translation: I woke up because of a loud noise while I was asleep.
「寝ている最中に」 emphasizes that the sleeping state was interrupted by the sound.
Usage ③ of 「〜最中に」｜A change or problem occurs while an activity is underway
「〜最中に」 is also often used for situations involving activities, travel, work, or movement that are in progress. The event in the second clause does not necessarily have to be negative, but it often changes the situation. The expression can precisely indicate that a change occurred during the activity itself rather than before or after it.
- Example: 移動の最中に雨が降り始めました。
Kana: いどうの さいちゅうに あめが ふりはじめました。
Translation: It started raining while we were on the move.
「移動の最中に」 indicates that the rain began while the movement was already underway. - Example: 作業の最中に新しい指示が入りました。
Kana: さぎょうの さいちゅうに あたらしい しじが はいりました。
Translation: New instructions came in while the work was in progress.
The new instructions interrupt the original workflow and may affect what happens next. - Example: 旅行の最中に予定が変わりました。
Kana: りょこうの さいちゅうに よていが かわりました。
Translation: The plans changed during the trip.
This sentence indicates that the change occurred while the trip was underway rather than before departure.
Differences between Japanese 「〜最中に／〜ときに／〜間に」: interruption midway through an action, general timing, and something happening within a period
「〜ときに」 is the broadest expression for “when” and can refer to a point before, during, or around the end of an activity. 「〜最中に」 more strongly emphasizes being right in the middle of something that is in progress and often carries a sense of a sudden event intruding. 「〜間に」, on the other hand, indicates that something happens within a certain span of time and does not necessarily imply interruption. All three can describe time, but their focus differs.
| Comparison | 〜最中に | 〜ときに | 〜間に |
| Core meaning | right in the middle of something | at a certain time | within a period |
| Nuance | midway, interruption, sudden event | neutral | something occurs or is completed within a period |
| Emphasizes interruption? | often | not necessarily | not necessarily |
| Example | 会議の最中に電話が鳴った | 会議のときに電話が鳴った | 会議の間に資料を確認した |
▌Why use 「〜最中に」 when an unexpected event interrupts something?
❌ Too neutral in nuance: 会議のときに電話が鳴りました。
✅ More precise: 会議の最中に電話が鳴りました。
If you want to emphasize that the phone rang while the meeting was underway and interrupted its flow, 「最中に」 makes this clearer.
▌When you only need to indicate the time, 「〜ときに」 is more natural
❌ Overly emphatic: 日本へ行っている最中に友だちに会いました。
✅ Natural: 日本へ行ったときに友だちに会いました。
If you simply mean that you met a friend when you went to Japan, there is no need to emphasize being in the middle of an ongoing action, so 「ときに」 is more natural.
▌Use 「〜間に」 when something is completed within a certain period
❌ The nuance does not fit: 昼休みの最中に銀行へ行きました。
✅ Natural: 昼休みの間に銀行へ行きました。
Going to the bank happened within the lunch break rather than as an unexpected interruption, so 「間に」 is more natural.
Real-life situations for Japanese 「〜最中に」: meetings, meals, and concentrated work
In Japanese work and everyday life, 「〜最中に」 is often used to explain that something interrupted an activity while it was in progress. A phone ringing during a meeting, an earthquake occurring during a meal, or new instructions arriving during a task are all situations in which the sense of being “in the middle of” something is especially clear. Compared with 「ときに」, it creates a more vivid scene and makes the exact timing of the event easier for the listener to understand.
▌Situation ①｜A phone rings during a meeting
A：会議の最中に電話が鳴ってしまいました。
かいぎの さいちゅうに でんわが なってしまいました。
My phone accidentally rang while the meeting was in progress.
B：次からはマナーモードにしてください。
つぎからは マナーモードに してください。
Please put it on silent mode next time.
📌 Grammar Point: 「最中に」 emphasizes that the phone rang at a moment when it interrupted the meeting.
▌Situation ②｜An earthquake occurs during a meal
A：食事の最中に地震がありました。
しょくじの さいちゅうに じしんが ありました。
There was an earthquake during the meal.
B：すぐ安全な場所に移動しましょう。
すぐ あんぜんな ばしょに いどうしましょう。
Let’s move to a safe place immediately.
📌 Grammar Point: The earthquake occurred in the middle of the meal and interrupted the activity that had been in progress.
▌Situation ③｜New instructions arrive during a task
A：資料を作っている最中に新しい指示が入りました。
しりょうを つくっている さいちゅうに あたらしい しじが はいりました。
New instructions came in while I was preparing the materials.
B：では、先に内容を確認しましょう。
では、さきに ないようを かくにんしましょう。
Then let’s check the details first.
📌 Grammar Point: 「作っている最中に」 indicates that new instructions interrupted the work while it was still in progress.
Cultural Notes:
- 「〜最中に」 often carries a sense of interruption, so it is well suited to describing etiquette issues such as a phone ringing during a meeting.
- If you are simply describing something that was done within a certain period, 「最中に」 is not always necessary, and 「間に」 is often more natural.
- 「最中」 can be read as 「さいちゅう」. Do not confuse it with the Japanese sweet 「最中（もなか）」; in this grammar pattern, it is read 「さいちゅう」.
How does Japanese 「〜最中に」 compare with Korean 「-는 중에」?
◆ Similar grammar: Korean 「-는 중에」
Korean 「-는 중에」 means “while doing…” or “in the middle of…” and is similar to Japanese 「〜ている最中に」. It can also indicate that another event happens while something is already in progress. However, Japanese 「最中に」 places stronger emphasis on being right in the middle of an activity and can sometimes carry a stronger sense of interruption than the more neutral Korean 「-는 중에」.
- Example: 회의하는 중에 전화가 왔어요.
Romanization: hoe-ui-ha-neun jung-e jeon-hwa-ga wa-sseo-yo
Translation: A phone call came while I was in a meeting.
This sentence is close to the Japanese 「会議の最中に電話が来ました」. - Example: 밥 먹는 중에 지진이 났어요.
Romanization: bap meok-neun jung-e ji-ji-ni na-sseo-yo
Translation: An earthquake occurred while we were eating.
「먹는 중에」 indicates that the event happened while the meal was in progress. - Example: 자료를 만드는 중에 새 지시가 들어왔어요.
Romanization: ja-ryo-reul man-deu-neun jung-e sae ji-si-ga deu-reo-wa-sseo-yo
Translation: New instructions came in while I was preparing the materials.
Korean 「-는 중에」 can express an event occurring in the middle of an ongoing task.
◆ Core difference from 「〜最中に」:
Japanese 「〜最中に」 especially emphasizes being right in the middle of an ongoing action and often carries a sense of something unexpected or disruptive. Korean 「-는 중에」 is more neutral and can also simply describe something being in progress. When translating, it is important to consider whether the Japanese sentence includes a sense of interference or interruption.
What Japanese 「〜最中に」 focuses on is that before one event has finished, another event appears in the middle of it. The first clause usually uses the verb ている form or 「noun＋の」, while the following clause often describes an unexpected incident. If the sentence merely refers to a general time, 「〜ときに」 is sufficient. If the focus is on completing something within a certain period, 「〜間に」 is more appropriate. When reading a sentence, first check whether the activity in the first clause is genuinely in progress, and then consider whether the event in the second clause interrupts or changes the original flow.
FAQs
「〜最中に」 indicates that another event occurs while something is already in progress. It often carries a sense of something unexpected, intrusive, or interruptive.
It can follow the 「verb ている form＋最中に」 pattern, as in 「話している最中に」. It can also follow 「noun＋の＋最中に」, as in 「会議の最中に」.
「〜ときに」 broadly refers to “when,” while 「〜最中に」 emphasizes that something is actively in progress and often gives a sense that another event interrupts or intrudes.
「〜間に」 indicates that something happens or is completed within a certain period. 「〜最中に」 places more emphasis on being in the middle of an ongoing action and often carries a sudden or interruptive nuance.
In the grammar expression 「最中に」, it is read 「さいちゅうに」. Do not confuse it with the Japanese sweet 「最中（もなか）」.