1.
busy (phone line); engaged
The state of a phone line being occupied, producing a busy signal when called.
電話が話し中だった。
The phone line was busy.
何度かけても話し中でつながらない。
No matter how many times I call, the line is busy and I can't get through.
2.
in the middle of talking; currently speaking
Being in the process of a conversation, not yet finished talking.
話し中にすみませんが、一つ質問があります。
Sorry for interrupting while you're talking, but I have a question.
部長は今話し中ですので、少しお待ちください。
The manager is on the phone right now, so please wait a moment.
人が話し中に割り込むのは失礼だ。
It's rude to interrupt while someone is talking.
Composed of 話し (talking) and 中 (in the middle of, during). The phone-related sense (sense 1) was the primary meaning, but with the decline of landlines, sense 2 (currently talking) is increasingly common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 話し中の音: busy signal (phone)
- 話し中でつながらない: can't get through because the line is busy
- 話し中に割り込む: to cut in while someone is talking
SIMILAR PATTERNS:
The ～中 suffix attaches to many nouns to mean 'in the middle of':
- 会議中: in a meeting
- 食事中: during a meal
- 授業中: during class