JLPT N4EverydaySigns and notices

中ちゅう・じゅうduring; all through; by the end of

中 goes straight onto a noun. Read ちゅう, it is "in the middle of" or "during". Read じゅう, it is usually "all through" or "all over".

ちゅう: in the middle of

部ぶ長ちょうは会かい議ぎ中ちゅうです。

The department manager is in a meeting.

じゅう: all through

一いち日にち中じゅう、雨あめが降ふっていました。

It rained all day.

with に: before it is over

今日きょう中じゅうに返へん事じを送おくります。

I will send a reply by the end of today.

How to form it

Noun + 中

With の in between, 中 is read なか and means "inside": 箱はこの中なか.

Before 中	Read	Means
Something going on: 会かい議ぎ, 食しょく事じ, 旅りょ行こう	ちゅう	In the middle of it; during it
One whole day, night or year: 一いち日にち, 一ひと晩ばん, 一いち年ねん	じゅう	All day, all night, all year
A place or a group: 世せ界かい, 日本にほん, 家いえ, クラス	じゅう	All over it; all of it

With に after today, this week or this year, it is "before it is over": 今日きょう中じゅうに.

ちゅう: in the middle of it

You will see it on doors and signs: 営えい業ぎょう中ちゅう (open), 準じゅん備び中ちゅう (not open yet), 工こう事じ中ちゅう (under construction), 使し用よう中ちゅう (in use), 故こ障しょう中ちゅう (out of order).

ただいま準じゅん備び中ちゅうですので、少しょう々しょうお待まちください。

We're still getting ready, so please wait a moment.

この機き械かいは修しゅう理り中ちゅうなので、使つかえません。

This machine is being repaired, so you can't use it.

お食しょく事じ中ちゅう、すみません。

Sorry to disturb you during your meal.

会かい議ぎ中ちゅうに停てい電でんしました。

The power went out during the meeting.

At one point during it.

会かい議ぎ中ちゅうは電でん話わに出でられません。

I can't answer the phone during the meeting.

All the while.

旅りょ行こう中ちゅうの写しゃ真しんを家か族ぞくに見みせました。

I showed my family photos from the trip.

じゅう: all of it

After a time word it usually takes no particle. After a place or a group, particles follow as usual.

一いち日にち中じゅう図と書しょ館かんで勉べん強きょうしました。

I studied at the library all day.

昨さく夜やは一ひと晩ばん中じゅう雨あめが降ふっていた。

It rained all night last night.

その歌うたは日本にほん中じゅうで知しられている。

That song is known throughout Japan.

犬いぬが家いえ中じゅうを走はしり回まわった。

The dog ran all around the house.

今日きょう中じゅうに: before today is over

With に and something you get done, it isn't "all day".

一いち日にち中じゅうレポートを書かいていました。

I was writing the report all day.

The whole day.

今日きょう中じゅうにレポートを書かきます。

I'll write the report by the end of today.

At some point before today ends.

A week, a month and a year work the same way, but the reading goes with the word.

	Read	Means
今日きょう中じゅうに	じゅう	by the end of today
今こん週しゅう中ちゅうに	ちゅう	by the end of this week
今こん月げつ中ちゅうに	ちゅう	by the end of this month
今年ことし中じゅうに	じゅう	by the end of this year
午ご前ぜん中ちゅうに	ちゅう	in the morning, before noon

この申もうし込こみ書しょを今こん週しゅう中ちゅうに提てい出しゅつしてください。

Please submit this application form by the end of this week.

今年ことし中じゅうに引ひっ越こす予よ定ていです。

I plan to move by the end of this year.

Close neighbours

の中なかN5

中 read なか: the inside of a bag, a box, a room.

かばんの中なかに財さい布ふを入いれました。

I put my wallet in my bag.

間あいだ・間あいだにN4

"During" or "while" after の or after a whole clause, where 中 can't go.

母ははが電でん話わしている間あいだに、猫ねこがケーキを食たべてしまった。

While my mother was on the phone, the cat ate the cake.

までにN4

A deadline at a point in time: by Friday, by three o'clock.

申もうし込こみ書しょを金きん曜よう日びまでに提てい出しゅつしてください。

Please submit the application form by Friday.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

今日きょう中じゅうに宿しゅく題だいを終おわらせます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2How is 中 read in 電でん話わ中です (is on the phone)?

Choose an answer to see why.

3"The teacher is in class now."

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

考かんがえ中ちゅう, 話はなし中ちゅう

In everyday talk 中ちゅう also goes on a few verb stems: 考かんがえ中ちゅう (still thinking), 話はなし中ちゅう (the line is busy).

A

何なににする？

What are you having?

B

まだ考かんがえ中ちゅう。

Still thinking.

More sentences

授じゅ業ぎょう中ちゅうに地じ震しんがありました。

There was an earthquake during class.

出しゅっ張ちょう中ちゅうに、新あたらしい取とり引ひき先さきと会あいました。

I met a new business contact during the trip.

留る守す中ちゅうは、猫ねこを姉あねに預あずけていました。

While I was away, I left my cat with my older sister.

入にゅう院いん中ちゅうは毎まい日にち、本ほんを読よんでいました。

While I was in the hospital, I read books every day.

工こう事じ中ちゅうの道どう路ろには入はいれません。

You cannot enter a road that is under construction.

クラス中じゅうがその知しらせに驚おどろいた。

The whole class was surprised by the news.