Structure Legend
Structure
Verb[る]+ 途中 + で(1)
Noun + の + 途中 + で(1)
(1) に
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About 途中に・途中で
With 途中 meaning 'on the way', the addition of either the case marking particleに or で will indicate that something is either being done 'on the way to (A)', 'partway through (A)' or 'in the middle of (A)'.
途中 may be seen after verbs in their standard form, or nouns followed by の.
As always, に will put more emphasis on the time or duration of (A), while で will put further emphasis on the process of (A) being the cause of (B), or being used as an opportunity to do (B). Let's take a look at both.
途中 may be seen after verbs in their standard form, or nouns followed by の.
As always, に will put more emphasis on the time or duration of (A), while で will put further emphasis on the process of (A) being the cause of (B), or being used as an opportunity to do (B). Let's take a look at both.
- 待ち合わせ場所に向かっている途中に、「ごめん、やっぱり今日行けないかも」と友達からメールが来た。On the way to the meeting place, I received a text from a friend saying, 'Sorry, I might not be able to make it today after all'.
- 授業の途中に校長先生から呼び出された時はビクッとした。I was a bit startled when the principal called me out in the middle of class.
- 会社から帰る途中で変なおじさんに話しかけられた。On my way home from work, a strange man tried to talk to me.
- ミーティングの途中で社長が倒れて、会社中がパニックになった。The president collapsed in the middle of a meeting and everyone in the whole company panicked.
Synonyms
Examples
旅の途中で迷っていたら、通行人が案内してくれた。
In the middle of a trip, I lost my way, and a passerby gave me directions.
面接の途中でリクルーターはいきなり笑い始めた。
In the middle of an interview, the recruiter suddenly started laughing.
朝ご飯を作っている途中で電話が鳴った。
In the middle of making breakfast, the telephone rang.
シーズンの途中で引退会見をするのは微妙だ。
Holding a retirement press conference in the middle of the season is questionable.
司会の途中でトイレに行きたくなって困った。
I found myself in a pickle when I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of leading a meeting.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Additional Breakdown and Example Sentences
JapaneseTest4You
Offline
みんなの日本語 II
Page 90 [CH 39]
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
途中に・途中で – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
Skyyy
About 1 month ago
Hi, I’m having trouble learning when to use に and when to use で with 途中. It says that に usually emphasizes the duration while で implies that A was sort of an opportunity to do B, right? Yet while reviewing, the sentence 出張の???実家に寄ってもいいと言われた。popped up and 途中に was the excepted answer. How is the duration of the trip relevant in this phrase? and isn’t the trip typically an opportunity to visit family? I don’t understand.
Got questions about 途中に・途中で? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion