JLPT N3 grammar
〜最中（さいちゅう） — Meaning & Examples
Right in the middle of (an action), usually when something unexpected happens. 会議の最中に電話が鳴った. Read さいちゅう, not もなか (a sweet).
〜最中に — Right in the Middle Of
〜最中 = right in the middle of (an action) — and usually something unexpected happens then.
Formation: て-form + いる + 最中 ／ noun + の + 最中
会議の最中に、電話が鳴った。
= Right in the middle of the meeting, a phone rang.
寝ている最中に、地震が起きた。
= An earthquake struck while I was sound asleep.
食事の最中に、停電になった。
= The power went out in the middle of our meal.
As a predicate: 〜の最中だ／最中です
今、試験の最中です。 = I'm in the middle of an exam right now.
⚠️ Reading: 最中 is さいちゅう. (The same characters read もなか are a Japanese rice-cake sweet — a classic JLPT trap!)
最中 vs 〜ているところ (N4):
勉強しているところだ。 = I'm in the middle of studying. (a neutral status report)
勉強している最中に、友達が来た。 = Right in the thick of studying, a friend turned up. (the timing is the point — usually bad timing)
最中 stresses the peak of the action being interrupted, so what follows is almost always a sudden event. 🎬
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜最中（さいちゅう）. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. How is 最中 read in 「会議の最中に」?
- さいちゅう (saichuu)
- もなか (monaka)
- もちゅう (mochuu)
- さいじゅう (saijuu)
Show answer
Answer: さいちゅう (saichuu)
最中 is read さいちゅう here. Read もなか it is a rice-cake sweet — a favourite JLPT trap.
2. 「食事の最中に、停電になった」 suggests?
- The power cut happened after the meal
- The power cut happened right in the middle of the meal
- The meal was about to start
- The speaker caused the power cut
Show answer
Answer: The power cut happened right in the middle of the meal
最中 pins the event to the peak of the action — typically an unexpected interruption.
Practise 〜最中（さいちゅう） in the free app
This point is part of the “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: 🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜最中（さいちゅう） mean?
Right in the middle of (an action), usually when something unexpected happens. 会議の最中に電話が鳴った. Read さいちゅう, not もなか (a sweet).
Is 〜最中（さいちゅう） on the JLPT N3 test?
〜最中（さいちゅう） is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜最中（さいちゅう）?
Open the “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.