1.
in the midst of, in the thick of, in the vortex of
Being at the center of a turbulent situation, controversy, or crisis. Literally means 'inside a whirlpool' and is used figuratively for being caught up in the middle of chaotic or problematic events.
事件の渦中にいる。
To be in the thick of an incident.
彼はスキャンダルの渦中の人物だ。
He is the person at the center of the scandal.
政治改革の渦中にあって、彼女は冷静さを保った。
In the midst of political reform, she maintained her composure.
USAGE:
Literally "inside a whirlpool" (渦 = whirlpool, 中 = inside). Used exclusively in a figurative sense to describe being at the center of a controversy, crisis, or turbulent situation. It does not refer to a literal whirlpool.
Almost always appears in the patterns 渦中にいる, 渦中にある, or 渦中の + noun. Commonly seen in news reporting and formal writing.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 渦中にいる: to be in the midst of
- 渦中にある: to be in the midst of (more formal)
- 渦中の人物: the person at the center (of a controversy)
- 渦中に巻き込まれる: to be drawn into the middle of