運転中(うんてんちゅう)

うんてんちゅう
noun
while driving; in operation
time-general
1. while driving; during driving
The state of being in the process of driving a vehicle.
運転中(うんてんちゅう)は電話(でんわ)するな。
Don't use the phone while driving.
運転中(うんてんちゅう)にメールを見(み)るのは危(あぶ)ない。
Looking at emails while driving is dangerous.
2. in operation; running
The state of a machine or system currently being in operation.
このエレベーターは運転中(うんてんちゅう)です。
This elevator is in operation.

運転中(うんてんちゅう) means 'while driving' or 'in operation.' It combines 運転(うんてん) (driving/operation) with the suffix 中(ちゅう) (during).

Forms

The suffix 〜中(ちゅう) attaches to action nouns to mean 'in the middle of ~.' Other examples: 工事中(こうじちゅう) (under construction), 営業中(えいぎょうちゅう) (open for business), 使用中(しようちゅう) (in use).

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Related: 運転(うんてん) (driving, operation)
Compare: 走行中(そうこうちゅう) (while the vehicle is moving)
Compare: 稼働中(かどうちゅう) (in operation)
general
Added 2026.2.3 14:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
09500/09659_untenchuu