ISORI

〜中(ちゅう)

JLPT N4:

during / in the middle of

After a noun, 中(ちゅう) means something is in progress: "in the middle of", "during". Read じゅう, it means "all through".

How to form it

  • After an activity, 中(ちゅう) means it is under way: 仕事中(しごとちゅう) (at work), 会議中(かいぎちゅう) (in a meeting), 電話中(でんわちゅう) (on the phone).
  • Read じゅう, it means "throughout" a period or place: 一日中(いちにちじゅう) (all day), 世界中(せかいじゅう) (all over the world).

Examples

今(いま)、仕事中(しごとちゅう)です。

I'm at work right now.

一日中(いちにちじゅう)勉強(べんきょう)しました。

I studied all day.

Notes

  • The reading has to be learned word by word: 午前中(ごぜんちゅう) (during the morning), but 今日中(きょうじゅう) (by the end of today).