途中(とちゅう)で

とちゅうで
expression
halfway; in the middle (of doing something); on the way
time-generalmovement
1. halfway; in the middle of doing something; partway through
Indicates that something happens or is interrupted at an intermediate point during an activity or process, before it is completed.
途中(とちゅう)でやめる。
To quit partway through.
映画(えいが)の途中(とちゅう)で寝(ね)てしまった。
I fell asleep in the middle of the movie.
宿題(しゅくだい)を途中(とちゅう)でやめて夕食(ゆうしょく)を食(た)べに行(い)った。
I stopped my homework halfway through and went to have dinner.
2. on the way; en route
Indicates that something happens during a journey or while going somewhere, before reaching the destination.
帰(かえ)り道(みち)の途中(とちゅう)でコンビニに寄(よ)った。
On the way home, I stopped by a convenience store.
駅(えき)に行(い)く途中(とちゅう)で友達(ともだち)に会(あ)った。
I met a friend on the way to the station.
学校(がっこう)に行(い)く途中(とちゅう)で雨(あめ)が降(ふ)り始(はじ)めた。
It started raining on my way to school.

A very common adverbial expression combining 途中(とちゅう) (middle, midway) + で (locative/instrumental particle). Applies both to actions (partway through) and to journeys (on the way).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 途中(とちゅう)に: similar meaning, but で is more common when describing an action or event that occurs midway
  • 最中(さいちゅう)に: in the middle of — emphasizes the peak of an activity; slightly more formal
  • 〜ながら: while doing — describes two simultaneous actions, not interruption

Usage

The noun 途中(とちゅう) by itself means "on the way" or "midway." Adding で turns it into an adverbial phrase marking when something else happens.

Related Words

Compare: 途中(とちゅう) (similar meaning, but is more common…)
Compare: 最中(さいちゅう)に (in the middle of)
Compare: 道(みち)すがら (along the way)
Compare: 途中(とちゅう)から (from partway through)
general
Added 2026.4.12 2:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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