1.
by the end of today; within today; before today is over
A time expression meaning before today ends. Used to set a deadline for the current day.
今日中に終わらせる。
I'll finish it by the end of today.
このレポートを今日中に提出してください。
Please submit this report by the end of today.
今日中に返事がもらえるかどうか分からない。
I'm not sure if I can get a reply by the end of today.
A deadline expression meaning "before today ends." It sets the current day as the time limit for completing something, and is common in workplace instructions and promises.
PATTERN: ~中
The suffix ~中 means "within" or "by the end of" a time period:
- 今日中 — by the end of today
- 今週中 — within this week
- 今月中 — within this month
- 午前中 — during the morning (note: this uses ちゅう)
READING NOTE:
Read as きょうじゅう (not きょうちゅう). The ~中 reading emphasizes the deadline sense ("by the end of"), while ~中 emphasizes duration ("throughout").