Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 5/24

途中(とちゅう)On the way, Partway, In the middle of

Structure

Verb[る]+ 途中(とちゅう) + (1)
Noun + + 途中(とちゅう) + (1)

(1)

Details

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About 途中に・途中で

With 途中(とちゅう) meaning 'on the way', the addition of either the case marking particleに or で will indicate that something is either being done 'on the way to (A)', 'partway through (A)' or 'in the middle of (A)'.

途中(とちゅう) may be seen after verbs in their standard form, or nouns followed by の.

As always, に will put more emphasis on the time or duration of (A), while で will put further emphasis on the process of (A) being the cause of (B), or being used as an opportunity to do (B). Let's take a look at both.

The meanings of で and に in regard to this particular grammar point can overlap quite often, so it may be necessary to see many examples before the slight difference in nuance becomes apparent.

Examples

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    シャッターが途中(とちゅう)()まらなくなってしまった。

    The shutter unfortunately stopped closing in the middle.

    集金(しゅうきん)途中(とちゅう)()りがなくなってしまった。

    I lost the change partway through collecting money.

    面接(めんせつ)途中(とちゅう)リクルーターはいきなり(わら)(はじ)めた。

    In the middle of an interview, the recruiter suddenly started laughing.

    (あさ)(はん)(つく)っている途中(とちゅう)電話(でんわ)()った。

    In the middle of making breakfast, the telephone rang.

    シーズン途中(とちゅう)引退(いんたい)会見(かいけん)をするのは微妙(びみょう)だ。

    Holding a retirement press conference in the middle of the season is questionable.

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      途中に・途中で – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

      • Skyyy

        Skyyy

        Hi, I’m having trouble learning when to use に and when to use で with 途中. It says that に usually emphasizes the duration while で implies that A was sort of an opportunity to do B, right? Yet while reviewing, the sentence 出張の???実家に寄ってもいいと言われた。popped up and 途中に was the excepted answer. How is the duration of the trip relevant in this phrase? and isn’t the trip typically an opportunity to visit family? I don’t understand.

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