Structure
Noun + 中 (に)
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Standard
About 中
As a suffix, 中 is frequently used to highlight a period of time (or space). By attaching the case marking particle に to 中, 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 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 中に is sometimes read/said as 中に. The basic rule for when to use ちゅう or when to use じゅう is as follows:
中に - 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 音読み (Chinese readings of words), and 訓読み (Japanese readings of words).
じゅう is used more frequently with 訓読み - (今年中, 夏休み中, 今晩中).
ちゅう is used more frequently with 音読み - (水中, 会議中, 試合中).
Related
Examples
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一日中、勉強をした。
I studied (all) throughout the day.
授業中に、トイレに行きたくなった。
During class, I had to go to the bathroom.
食事中にスマホをいじるのはやめなさい。
Quit playing on your smartphone while you are eating!
まだ考え中だから、決めていないよ。
I am still in the process of thinking, so I haven't decided yet.
テスト中に私の携帯が鳴ってしまった。
My phone accidentally rang during the test.
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中 – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (10 in total)
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 eatingWith 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
Newkidi
Im struggle with the difference with の間 I tried the difference section on thr page but that doesnt help much. When it comes to nouns Nounの間 mean while A. I came across a sentence of 在学中に留学したい so my thing is how’s this different then 在学の間留学したい im not understanding the difference the both mean while or during. Looking online another not alot of people have thought of the difference makes me feel like im the only one
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