1.
middle stage, middle phase, mid-game
The middle portion of a process, event, game, or time period, between the beginning and the end.
試合は中盤に入った。
The match entered the middle stage.
映画の中盤から展開が面白くなる。
The movie gets interesting from the middle onwards.
プロジェクトも中盤に差し掛かり、いよいよ正念場を迎える。
The project is now entering its middle phase, and we're reaching the critical moment.
中盤 divides a process into three stages along with 序盤 and 終盤.
THREE-STAGE STRUCTURE:
- 序盤 (opening stage, early phase)
- 中盤 (middle stage)
- 終盤 (final stage, endgame)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 中盤に入る (enter the middle phase)
- 中盤に差し掛かる (approach the middle phase)
- 中盤の山場 (climax of the middle stage)
Originally from board games (especially 将棋 and 囲碁), now widely used for sports, stories, projects, and any time-based process.