Japatan
Formation
- Vている + 最中に
- N + の + 最中に
- (文末) Vている / N + の + 最中だ
Explanation
〜最中に means "right in the middle of" an action or event. The main clause usually describes something unexpected or disturbing that happens at that moment, such as a phone ringing. As 〜最中だ at the end of a sentence, it means "I am right in the middle of doing ~." It is used for activities that are in progress, not for long-lasting states like living somewhere or being a student.
Examples
会議の 最中に、大きな音で電話が鳴りだした。
In the middle of the meeting, a phone started ringing loudly.
シャワーを 浴びている最中に、急に電気が消えた。
Right in the middle of my shower, the lights suddenly went out.
試験の 最中に、お腹が痛くなってしまった。
My stomach started to hurt in the middle of the exam.
すみません、今食事の 最中なので、あとでかけ直します。
Sorry, I'm in the middle of a meal right now, so I'll call you back later.
Notes
〜間に refers to any point within a period, while 〜最中に stresses "right at the busiest point" of an ongoing action. It cannot follow a finished action, so 終わった最中に is wrong.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1料理を作っている（ ）、友だちが急に来た。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 最中に
"A friend suddenly came while I was in the middle of cooking." 最中に fits an ongoing action. たびに means "every time," として means "as (a role)," and によると means "according to," so they do not fit.
2授業（ ）、携帯電話が鳴ってしまった。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 の最中に
"My mobile phone rang in the middle of class." After a noun, use N + の + 最中に, so 授業の最中に is correct. な, で, or no particle are not possible.
3「最中に」の使い方が正しい文はどれですか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 寝ている最中に、大きな音で目が覚めた。
Sentence 2, "A loud noise woke me up in the middle of my sleep," is correct. Sentences 1 and 4 describe long states, which need 間に or うちに. Sentence 3 uses a finished action, which is not possible.
