最中

最中

Japanese

Kanji in this term
最	中
Grade: 4	Grade: 1

Etymology 1

最 (sai-, “most”) +‎ 中 (chū, “middle”)

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
  • (Tokyo) さ​いちゅう [sáꜜìchùù] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
  • IPA^(key): [sa̠it͡ɕɨᵝː]

Noun

最中 (hiragana さいちゅう, rōmaji saichū)

1. most active state, in progress, at one's best
2. the middle, midst, during
3. in one's prime

Etymology 2

最 (sai, “most”) +‎ 中 (naka, “inside”)

Pronunciation

• Jūbakoyomi
  • (Tokyo) さ​なか [sáꜜnàkà] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
  • IPA^(key): [sa̠na̠ka̠]

Noun

最中 (hiragana さなか, rōmaji sanaka)

1. at its prime, midst

Proper noun

最中 (hiragana さなか, rōmaji Sanaka)

1. A female given name

Etymology 3

最 (motto) +‎ 中 (naka, “inside”)

最中 (monaka)

Pronunciation

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) も​なか [móꜜnàkà] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
  • IPA^(key): [mo̞na̠ka̠]

Noun

最中 (hiragana もなか, rōmaji monaka)

1. wafer cake filled with bean jam

References

1. 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN