noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
inside a vehicle; on a train/bus/car
Refers to being inside or aboard a vehicle, especially a train, car, or bus. Often used in compound phrases like 車中泊 (sleeping in a vehicle) or 車中で過ごす (spending time in a vehicle).
During the long journey, I read a book in the car.
I'm looking for a place where I can sleep in my car.
I read a book the whole time I was on the train.
I accidentally left my phone in the train.
I took a photo of the scene inside the train.
車外 means 'outside the vehicle,' the direct opposite of 車中, which means 'inside the vehicle.'
社中 (also read しゃちゅう) refers to the members of a company, troupe, or school, whereas 車中 means 'inside a vehicle' — the two are unrelated homophones.
車窓 means the window of a vehicle (used for the view outside), while 車中 means the inside of a vehicle itself.
Compound of 車 (しゃ, 'vehicle') and 中 (ちゅう, 'inside'). The reading is the standard on'yomi combination.