(ちゅうばん)

ちゅうばん
noun
middle stage, mid-game
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(しあい)中盤(ちゅうばん)(はい)った。
The match entered the middle stage.
映画(えいが)中盤(ちゅうばん)から展開(てんかい)面白(おもしろ)くなる。
The movie gets interesting from the middle onwards.
プロジェクトも中盤(ちゅうばん)()()かり、いよいよ正念場(しょうねんば)(むか)える。
The project is now entering its middle phase, and we're reaching the critical moment.

中盤(ちゅうばん) divides a process into three stages along with 序盤(じょばん) and 終盤(しゅうばん).

THREE-STAGE STRUCTURE:

  • 序盤(じょばん) (opening stage, early phase)
  • 中盤(ちゅうばん) (middle stage)
  • 終盤(しゅうばん) (final stage, endgame)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 中盤(ちゅうばん)(はい)る (enter the middle phase)
  • 中盤(ちゅうばん)()()かる (approach the middle phase)
  • 中盤(ちゅうばん)山場(やまば) (climax of the middle stage)

Originally from board games (especially 将棋(しょうぎ) and 囲碁(いご)), now widely used for sports, stories, projects, and any time-based process.