中ちゅう途と

ちゅ

う

と

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

Refers to the middle of a process, course, or action before it is completed. Often used in patterns such as 中途で and in compounds such as 中途退学 or 中途採用.

プロジェクトは資し金きん不ぶ足そくで中ちゅう途

と

で

中ちゅう

止し

に

なっ

た

。

The project was canceled midway because of a lack of funds.

彼かれは大だい学がくを中ちゅう途とで退たい学がくした。

He left university before completing it.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉を中ちゅう途とでやめるto quit something halfway through
彼かれは大だい学がくを中ちゅう途とでやめて、家か業ぎょうを継ついだ。
He quit university halfway through and took over the family business.
〈事こと〉が中ちゅう途とで終おわるfor something to end partway through, left unfinished
工こう事じは資し金きん不ぶ足そくで中ちゅう途とで終おわった。
The construction ended midway due to a lack of funds.

Kanji

中in, inside, middle
途route, way, road

Related words

途と中ちゅうN4
途中 is the everyday word for 'on the way' or 'partway through' an action, while 中途 is more abstract and formal, often describing an incomplete process like leaving school or a job.
半なかばN3
半ば points to the literal midpoint of something (e.g. 月の半ば, 'mid-month') or means 'partly', whereas 中途 emphasizes being unfinished partway through a course or process.

Don't confuse with

中ちゅう道どうN1
中途 also means midway or half-finished and looks similar in kanji, but it is used for unfinished processes (中途半端) rather than a deliberate moderate course like 中道.

Word family

中ちゅう途と半はん端ぱN2
halfway; half-baked; half-hearted; incomplete
中ちゅう途と入にゅう社しゃ
mid-career hiring; joining a company mid-career
中ちゅう途と採さい用よう
mid-career recruitment; mid-career hiring

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound of 中, 'middle,' and 途, 'way' or 'course'; literally, 'the middle of a course.'

中ちゅう途と退たい学がく

leaving school mid-term; dropping out