最さい中ちゅう

also: さなか

さ

い

ちゅ

う

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

in the middle of; in the midst of; at the height of

Indicates being in the middle of an action, event, or state. Often used with nouns or verbs in the ている form. The reading さなか is more formal/literary.

〈事こと〉の最さい中ちゅうにright in the middle of (an event/activity)
会かい議ぎの最さい中ちゅうに電でん話わが鳴なった。
The phone rang right in the middle of the meeting.
〈動どう詞し〉ている最さい中ちゅうにwhile in the middle of doing something
食しょく事じをしている最さい中ちゅうに地じ震しんが起おきた。
An earthquake struck while we were in the middle of eating.
〈事こと〉の最さい中ちゅうだto be right in the middle of (something)
今いま、大だい事じな仕し事ごとの最さい中ちゅうなので後あとで話はなしましょう。
I'm right in the middle of important work now, so let's talk later.

途と中ちゅうN4
途中 refers to being partway through a journey or process, while 最中 emphasizes being right at the peak or busiest point of an ongoing action.
折おりN1
折 is a more formal, literary way to refer to a particular occasion or moment, whereas 最中 specifically stresses being in the midst of something happening.
真まっ最さい中ちゅうN1
最中 simply means 'in the middle of' an activity, while 真っ最中 adds strong emphasis, stressing that the action is at its most intense point.
渦か中ちゅう
最中 means simply 'in the middle of' any event or action, while 渦中 specifically implies being caught up in trouble, scandal, or swirling turmoil.

Show 4 more

中ちゅうN3
最中（さいちゅう）is a noun meaning 'right in the middle of' used with の, whereas 中（ちゅう）is a suffix attached directly to action nouns like 会議中.
矢や先さきN1
最中 (〜している最中に) describes something happening while an action is still ongoing, whereas 矢先 (〜した矢先に) marks the instant right after an action is completed.
その間あいだ
最中 emphasizes being right in the middle of an ongoing action, whereas その間 covers the whole duration between two points.
途と上じょうN1
最中 stresses being right in the peak or thick of an action at this moment, whereas 途上 describes a longer-term process still underway.

最も中なか
最中 read さいちゅう means 'in the middle of', but the same kanji read もなか refers to a traditional wagashi (sweet wafer-and-bean-paste confection).
最さい高こうN3
最中 (さいちゅう) shares the kanji 最 with 最高 but means 'in the middle of (an action)', not 'best' or 'highest'.

最中Usage81%
- さいちゅう
  Standard kanji spelling for the reading さいちゅう. High priority.
- さなか
  Alternate reading さなか, used in more formal or literary contexts. The kanji spelling is the same.
さなかUsage16%
さ中Usage2%
- さなか
- さいちゅう
  Rare variant spelling using kana for the first character. Not commonly used.
さいちゅうUsage1%
サイチュウUsage<1%

Compound of 最 (most, extreme) and 中 (middle, inside). The reading さなか is a sound shift from さいちゅう, with さ being an older reading of 最.