最中

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
最	中
さい Grade: 4	ちゅう Grade: 1
on’yomi

最 (sai-, “most”) +‎ 中 (chū, “middle”)

Pronunciation

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

Noun

最(さい)中(ちゅう) • (saichū) 

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

   映画(えいが)の最中(さいちゅう)で寝(ね)てしまった。

   Eiga no saichū de neteshimatta.

   [I, they] fell asleep in the middle of the movie.

3. in one's prime

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
最	中
さい > さ Grade: 4	なか Grade: 1
jūbakoyomi

最 (sai, “most”) +‎ 中 (naka, “inside”)

Pronunciation

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

Noun

最(さ)中(なか) • (sanaka) 

1. at its prime, midst

Proper noun

最(さ)中(なか) • (Sanaka) 

1. a female given name

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
最	中
もっと > も Grade: 4	なか Grade: 1
kun’yomi

最 (motto) +‎ 中 (naka, “inside”)

最中 (monaka)

Pronunciation

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

Noun

最(も)中(なか) • (monaka) 

1. wafer cake filled with bean jam