真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう)

まっさいちゅう
noun
in the very middle of
1. right in the middle of, in the thick of
Emphasizes being at the peak or most intense point of an activity or situation. Stronger than 最中(さいちゅう) alone.
会議(かいぎ)の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう)だ。
We're right in the middle of a meeting.
今(いま)、引(ひ)っ越(こ)しの真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう)で忙(いそが)しい。
I'm busy right now — I'm in the middle of moving.
桜(さくら)が満開(まんかい)の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう)に雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ってしまい、お花見(はなみ)ができなかった。
It rained right when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, so we couldn't have a flower-viewing party.

USAGE:
An emphatic form of 最中(さいちゅう) (in the middle of). The 真(ま)っ prefix intensifies the meaning, stressing that the activity is at its peak or most intense moment. Used in the pattern ～の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう) (right in the middle of ~).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 仕事(しごと)の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう): right in the middle of work
  • 食事(しょくじ)の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう): right in the middle of a meal
  • 試合(しあい)の真(ま)っ最中(さいちゅう): right in the middle of a game

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 最中(さいちゅう): in the middle of (less emphatic)
general
Added 2026.2.26 21:22
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