currently; during; throughout (中) – Japanese Grammar 中 (chuu / juu)

Q: What JLPT level is 中?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use 中 in a sentence?

Attach 中 to the appropriate verb or noun form. Currently; during; throughout

Q: Is 中 formal or casual Japanese?

中 can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

中

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

chuu / juu

currently; during; throughout

ように見える you ni mieru によって / による ni yotte / ni yoru というより to iu yori そうもない sou mo nai べきではない beki dewa nai せいぜい seizei には ni wa なんか / なんて nanka / nante にしたがって ni shitagatte わけではない wake dewa nai だらけ darake 一方だ ippou da 合う au いくら～ても ikura~temo について ni tsuite っぱなし ppanashi 切る kiru か何か ka nani ka 一体 ittai 上に ue ni ように見える you ni mieru によって / による ni yotte / ni yoru というより to iu yori そうもない sou mo nai べきではない beki dewa nai せいぜい seizei には ni wa なんか / なんて nanka / nante にしたがって ni shitagatte わけではない wake dewa nai だらけ darake 一方だ ippou da 合う au いくら～ても ikura~temo について ni tsuite っぱなし ppanashi 切る kiru か何か ka nani ka 一体 ittai 上に ue ni

🃏 Flashcard

中

chuu / juu

Tap to reveal usage

currently; during; throughout

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading chuu / juu

Post ID 50827

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

currently; during; throughout

📖 How to use it

Indicates that an action or state is currently in progress or ongoing throughout a period.

Attaches to For 'chuu' (currently/during), attach to the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., 仕事中) or to a noun indicating an activity (e.g., 会議中). For 'juu' (throughout), attach to a noun indicating a period or place (e.g., 一日中, 世界中).

The suffix 中 has two readings with different meanings. When read as 'chuu', it means 'in the middle of' or 'during', and it attaches to the stem of a verb (the form before ます) or to a noun that represents an activity. For example, 仕事中 means 'in the middle of work', and 会議中 means 'during the meeting'. This is common in everyday speech to describe what someone is currently doing, often as a status update or a polite way to say someone is busy. When read as 'juu', it means 'throughout' or 'all over', and it attaches to nouns that represent a period or a place, like 一日中 (all day) or 世界中 (all over the world). This reading emphasizes the entirety of the time or space. You can remember the difference: 'chuu' is like being in the middle of something, while 'juu' covers the whole thing.

すみません、今、電話中です。

Sumimasen, ima, denwa-chuu desu.

Sorry, I'm on the phone right now.

会議中は、スマホを消してください。

Kaigi-chuu wa, sumaho o keshite kudasai.

Please turn off your smartphone during the meeting.

彼は一日中図書館で勉強していた。

Kare wa ichinichijuu toshokan de benkyou shite ita.

He was studying at the library all day.

Not 最中 (saichuu) 最中 also means 'in the middle of' but emphasizes that something is happening at that exact moment and often implies interruption. For example, 食事の最中に電話が鳴った (the phone rang in the middle of eating). 中 (chuu) is more general and can be used for status like 仕事中.

Register This pattern is used in both spoken and written Japanese, but the 'chuu' reading is common in polite speech and business contexts, while 'juu' is neutral and used in everyday conversation.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

中

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat 中 three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using 中. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

← Previous

ぶりに

for the first time in (period of time)

だけ

as much as~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern 中 mean? ▼

Currently; during; throughout

What JLPT level is 中? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use 中 in a sentence? ▼

Attach 中 (chuu / juu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is 中 formal or casual Japanese? ▼

中 is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember 中 long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.