真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)

まっただなか
noun
right in the middle of; in the midst of
1. right in the middle of; in the midst of
Indicates being at the very center or peak of an ongoing situation, season, or activity. Adds emphasis to 只中 through the intensifying prefix 真っ.
夏(なつ)の真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)だ。
It's the height of summer.
試験(しけん)勉強(べんきょう)の真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)に電話(でんわ)が鳴(な)った。
The phone rang right in the middle of exam studying.
会社(かいしゃ)は今(いま)、大(おお)きな変革(へんかく)の真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)にある。
The company is right in the midst of major transformation.

An emphatic form of 只中(ただなか) (the middle of), intensified by the prefix 真(ま)っ. Used to stress that something is at its peak or that one is deeply immersed in a situation. Very common in both spoken and written Japanese.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)にある: to be right in the middle of
  • 真(ま)っ只中(ただなか)にいる: to be in the midst of
  • 夏(なつ)の真(ま)っ只中(ただなか): the height of summer
  • 仕事(しごと)の真(ま)っ只中(ただなか): in the thick of work

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 最中(さいちゅう): in the middle of — more neutral, commonly used for actions in progress
  • 真(ま)ん中(なか): the very center — refers to physical location rather than a situation or time period
  • 渦中(かちゅう): in the midst of (a controversy) — implies being caught up in something turbulent
general
Added 2026.4.6 21:07
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