Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 6/24

(なか)In, On, Into, Inside of

Structure

Noun + + (なか)

Details

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About 中を

Coming from the base meaning of the noun (なか) meaning 'inside', the addition of the case marking particleを in its role of identifying the place where an action is taking place creates a grammar structure that can be translated as 'doing (B) in (A)', 'doing (B) on (A)', or 'doing (B) inside of (A)'.

With this grammar point, (B) will be the action, while (A) will be a noun indicating the location.

Caution

The person or thing that is doing the action that (なか) is indicating may not actually be within the noun being marked with (A). A good example of this is 'doing (B) into (A)', such as with the う-Verb (のぞ)く 'to peer'.

  • 子供(こども)(みょう)(しず)かだな〜と(おも)い、子供(こども)部屋(べや)(なか)(のぞ)いてみたらただ()ていただけだった。
    I thought, 'My kid is suspiciously quiet', so I peeked into their room, but they were just sleeping.

Examples

--:--

    トンネルの(なか)(のぞ)く。

    I will peer into a tunnel.

    (なべ)(なか)(あら)う。

    I will wash the inside of a pot.

    (いえ)(なか)(ねこ)()(まわ)っている。

    The cat is running around the inside of the house.

    ペットボトルの(なか)ちゃんと(あら)ってください。

    Please wash the inside of the plastic bottle.

    人混(ひとご)みの(なか)(ある)くのは大変(たいへん)です。

    It is hard to walk within a crowd of people.

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      中を – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

      • devonhollowood

        devonhollowood

        Could you instead say 「家の中猫が歩く」? If so, how would the meaning change (using で vs. を)?

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hey there! You could say 家の中で猫が歩く,but there is a slight difference in nuance.
        The sentence using で has the nuance of the cat just walking somewhere in the house, while the sentence using を has the nuance of the cat ‘traveling’ or walking around the house.

      • devonhollowood

        devonhollowood

        Ah, that makes sense. Thanks!

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