中(ちゅう)During, While, Throughout, In the process of

Can be read as じゅう/ちゅう

Structure

Noun + 中(ちゅう) （に）

Details

About 中

As a suffix, 中(ちゅう) is frequently used to highlight a period of time (or space). By attaching the case marking particle に, the sentence can be modified, to show that (B) is happening/existing throughout the timeframe/space of (A). This is often translated as 'throughout (A), (B)', or 'during (A), (B)'. First, let's take a look at 中(ちゅう) being used to show events that are in process.

Now, to show that a (B) event is happening within (A), simply add the case marking particle に to show a 'temporal location'. This will be done by attaching に to the end of any noun that you would like to indicate as the being the 'space' within which another thing exists/occurs.

In these examples, we can see that 中(ちゅう)に is sometimes read/said as 中(じゅう)に. The basic rule for when to use ちゅう or when to use じゅう is as follows:

中(ちゅう)に - Expresses a very specific (usually small) amount of time/space, or something that is not always the same (an amount of time/space that can change, depending on the person/situation). This 'thing' that ちゅう highlights is usually a 'process', and therefore means that (A) is 'in the process' of happening.

Examples - A meeting, class, visit to somewhere.

中(じゅう)に - Expresses a predetermined amount of time/space that will always remain the same, regardless of the person/situation. Therefore, じゅう does not highlight a 'process', but focuses on the 'length' or 'space' itself. This tends to mean 'all throughout', as it focuses on the full amount of time/space.

Examples - A day, year, house, town or country.

Caution

There is also a difference between 音読(おんよ)み (Chinese readings of words), and 訓読(くんよ)み (Japanese readings of words).

じゅう is used more frequently with 訓読(くんよ)み - (今年中(ことしじゅう), 夏休(なつやす)み中(じゅう), 今晩中(こんばんじゅう)).

ちゅう is used more frequently with 音読(おんよ)み - (水中(すいちゅう), 会議中(かいぎちゅう), 試合中(しあいちゅう)).

Examples

--:--

一日(いちにち)中(じゅう)、勉強(べんきょう)をした。

I studied (all) throughout the day.

授業(じゅぎょう)中(ちゅう)に、トイレに行(い)きたくなった。

During class, I had to go to the bathroom.

食事(しょくじ)中(ちゅう)にスマホをいじるのはやめなさい。

Quit playing on your smartphone while you are eating!

まだ考(かんが)え中(ちゅう)だから、決(き)めていないよ。

I am still in the process of thinking, so I haven't decided yet.

テスト中(ちゅう)に私(わたし)の携帯(けいたい)が鳴(な)ってしまった。

My phone accidentally rang during the test.

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- How do we decide if 中 is ちゅう or じゅう?
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- How to use 中
  MaggieSensei
- The various uses of 「中」
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- What is the difference between 〜ている and 〜中?
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中 – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (9 in total)

mrnoone

during throughout while

Noun + 中 ( に )

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Candygaming
I might be missing something here, but why do i sometimes get the answer wrong when I write に . In this example, I don’t just get I prompt to change it, the answer gets market entirely wrong.

あの同僚どうりょうは仕事しごと ちゅう なのにいつも彼女かのじょとメールをする不真面目ふまじめな奴やつだ。

That co-worker is so incompetent, always texting his girlfriend during work.
Pushindawood
@Candygaming Sorry about that! I have updated the answers that throw hints/warnings for this grammar point. Adding に marks a specific event/time (ちゅう is a noun-suffix) during which something happens. You want to express “in the process of” or “throughout.” Plus, you do not add に before だ or な. Hope this helps! Cheers.
CrisH
I was wondering about the distinction between ちゅう and じゅう. In the sentence 「今晩じゅうにこの仕事を終わらせないといけないから、今夜は徹夜(てつや)だ。」 it seems ちゅう isn’t an alternative answer, but this would seem to me to be a ‘specific time’ (it certainly isn’t a duration), which would use ちゅう instead. Why is じゅう the appropriate answer for this one?
FredKore
Choosing ちゅう or じゅう only depends on what’s before it. They have the same meaning.
I’m not sure all the rules but if there’s a ん before, then it’s pronounced じゅう.
今晩中こんばんじゅう
日本中にほんじゅう

And for some reason, 一日中いちにちじゅう

EDIT: Studying this some more, my rule of thumb doesn’t work with 午前中ごぜんちゅう. That’s where you need the “length of time” vs “specific time” explanation.
Or, just accept that Japanese is bonkers and memorize...
CrisH
Ah, that would explain it. Can’t say that’s something I’d noticed.

一日 can mean “one day”, can’t it? So one way of interpreting it would be as a duration?
FredKore
Kinda. You could use it for “I sat here for the duration of the day”, but you couldn’t use it for “the epoxy is fully cured after the duration of one day”.
rinchan93
Can someone help me with the difference between 中 and 中に？
Can に always be dropped? Does it add meaning like 間 and 間に?
I’m so confused…

考え中 / 考え中に
世界中 / 世界中に
テスト中 / テスト中に
食事中 / 食事中に

ありがとうございました❣️
Fuga
Hey there!

に cant always be dropped, especially when it is used to mark a specific event/time when something happens as @Pushindawood has said.

考え中 / 考え中に While thinking/ at the time I was thinking
世界中 / 世界中に Around the world/ (at) Around the world
テスト中 / テスト中に During the test/ at the time the test was being taken
食事中 / 食事中に In the middle of eating/ at the time I was eating

With and without the に, they both mean during~/while~/ throughout~/ in the process of~ , but the ones with に emphasizes that it is happening at a specific time. 今、テスト中。Would translate as ‘I’m in the middle of a test,’ and would not need to have a に. テスト中に電話がかかってきた。would translate as ‘My phone rang while I was taking a test’, and in this sentence you can see how the に was used to emphasize that the person got a phone call during a specific time.

I hope that makes a little more sense.
rinchan93
Yea! It does! Thanks for the quick reply! I appreciate your time