～最中に
Right in the middle of an activity
You’ll be able to emphasize that another event happens at the height of an ongoing action or situation.
写真を撮っている最中に、風で帽子が飛びました。
shashin o totte iru saichuu ni, kaze de boushi ga tobimashita.
What do you think this sentence means?
Right in the middle of taking a photo, my hat blew away in the wind.
Right in the middle of an action
～最中に means “right in the middle of.” It highlights that another event occurs while an activity or situation is actively underway, often as an interruption. It is stronger and more immediate than ～間に.
料理をしている最中に、友だちが来ました。
ryouri o shite iru saichuu ni, tomodachi ga kimashita.
A friend came over while I was right in the middle of cooking.
試合の最中に、雨が降り出しました。
shiai no saichuu ni, ame ga furidashimashita.
It started to rain right in the middle of the game.
Name the activity in progress
Use a noun + の最中に or a verb in ている form + 最中に. The event after it is often unexpected, so this pattern does not usually describe a planned simultaneous action.
食事の最中に、地震がありました。
shokuji no saichuu ni, jishin ga arimashita.
There was an earthquake right in the middle of the meal.
シャワーを浴びている最中に、宅配便が来ました。
shawaa o abite iru saichuu ni, takuhaibin ga kimashita.
A delivery arrived while I was right in the middle of taking a shower.
～最中に vs ～間に
Both place an event inside an activity. ～最中に stresses that it cuts in while the activity is in full swing, often at a bad moment; ～間に only says the event happened at some point during it.
～最中に, right in the middle of
映画を見ている最中に、友だちから電話がかかってきました。
eiga o mite iru saichuu ni, tomodachi kara denwa ga kakatte kimashita.
A friend called right in the middle of my movie.
The call cuts in while I am absorbed in the film.
～間に, while; during
映画を見ている間に、友だちから電話がかかってきました。
eiga o mite iru aida ni, tomodachi kara denwa ga kakatte kimashita.
A friend called while I was watching a movie.
Only says the call came at some point during the film.
大事な発表の最中に、パソコンの電源が切れてしまった。
daiji na happyou no saichuu ni, pasokon no dengen ga kirete shimatta.
Right in the middle of an important presentation, my computer shut off.
テストの最中に、急におなかが痛くなりました。
tesuto no saichuu ni, kyuu ni onaka ga itaku narimashita.
Right in the middle of the test, my stomach suddenly started to hurt.
電話で予約をしている最中に、スマホの電池が切れてしまった。
denwa de yoyaku o shite iru saichuu ni, sumaho no denchi ga kirete shimatta.
My phone battery died right while I was making a reservation over the phone.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.