Imagine this!
You’re curled up on your sofa, eyes glued to the screen, watching the season finale of a gripping Netflix thriller. The music is swelling, the hero is slowly opening the mysterious door, and your heart is pounding in your chest...
Just as the secret is about to be revealed……BAM!!!
The power goes out, the screen goes black, and you’re left sitting in total silence. How frustrating!

Or, imagine you’re strolling through a charming old neighborhood in Kyoto.
As you walk along the stone-paved path toward a famous temple, you suddenly spot a tiny, hidden cafe tucked away in a narrow alley, smelling of fresh matcha and wagashi.
"Oh! I didn't know this was here!" you think, pausing your journey for a moment.

In both stories, something happened "mid-way" or "on the path."
In Japanese, we use two different expressions depending on what kind of thing happens: 途中で (とちゅうで / tochuu de) and 途中に (とちゅうに / tochuu ni).

Today, let’s clearly learn how to tell them apart so your Japanese flows naturally in everyday situations. Let’s get started!

How to Choose Between 途中で (tochuu de) and 途中に (tochuu ni)
The key to choosing between 途中で and 途中に is what kind of thing happens in the middle.
In many real-life situations, both can be used, and the difference is often about nuance rather than correctness.

Use 途中で (tochuu de) when an action is interrupted or when something happens that changes the situation.

会議の途中で、電話が鳴った。
かいぎのとちゅうで、でんわがなった。
kaigi no tochuu de, denwa ga natta.
A phone rang during the meeting. (An event interrupted the action.)

Use 途中に (tochuu ni) when a place, object, or person exists along a route or process.

駅へ行く途中に、カフェがある。
えきへいくとちゅうに、かふぇがある。
Eki e iku tochuu ni, kafe ga aru.
There is a coffee shop on the way to the station. (A location exists along the route.)

💡Quick Tip:
途中で (tochuu de) - something happens
途中に (tochuu ni) - something is there

最中に (さいちゅうに / saichuu ni) vs 途中で (tochuu de)
Both are all related to “the middle,” but the focus is slightly different.

最中に (saichuu ni)
最中に strongly emphasizes that an action is actively happening at that exact moment.
It highlights the peak or core moment of an action.

会議の最中に、地震が起きた。
かいぎ の さいちゅう に、じしん が おきた。
kaigi no saichuu ni, jishin ga okita.
An earthquake happened right in the middle of the meeting.

途中で (tochuu de)
途中で is more neutral and flexible.
It simply means that something happened partway through an action or process. It does not necessarily emphasize intensity, and it is very common in everyday conversation.

会議の途中で、電話が鳴った。
かいぎのとちゅうで、でんわがなった。
kaigi no tochuu de, denwa ga natta.
A phone rang during the meeting.

家に帰る途中で、急に雨が降り出した。
いえ に かえる とちゅう で、きゅう に あめ が ふりだした。
ie ni kaeru tochuu de, kyuu ni ame ga furidashita.
On my way home, it suddenly started raining.

掃除をする途中で、懐かしい写真を見つけた。
そうじ を する とちゅう で、なつかしい しゃしん を みつけた。
souji wo suru tochuu de, natsukashii shashin wo mitsuketa.
While cleaning, I found some nostalgic photos.

会社へ行く途中に、おいしいパン屋があります。
かいしゃ へ いく とちゅう に、おいしい ぱんや が あります。
kaisha he iku tochuu ni, oishii panya ga arimasu.
There is a delicious bakery on the way to work.

授業の途中で、お腹が空いて集中できなくなった。
じゅぎょう の とちゅう で、おなか が すいて しゅうちゅう できなく なった。
jugyou no tochuu de, onaka ga suite shuuchuu dekinaku natta.
I got hungry in the middle of class and couldn’t concentrate.

人生という長い旅路の途中で、小さな幸せをたくさん見つけていきたい。
じんせい という ながい たびじ の とちゅう で、ちいさな しあわせ を たくさん みつけて いきたい。
jinsei to iu nagai tabiji no tochuu de, chiisana shiawase wo takusan mitsukete ikitai.
Along the long journey called life, I want to keep finding many small moments of happiness.

• Grammar Point: 途中で / 途中に (とちゅうで / とちゅうに tochuu de / tochuu ni)
• JLPT Level: N3
• Meaning: In the middle of, on the way
  
• Quick Explanation: Use 途中で when something happens or interrupts an action.
  Use 途中に when something exists along a route.
  
  

So that’s how we use 途中で and 途中に!
Once you notice whether you’re talking about an interruption or something that exists along the way, choosing between them becomes much easier.

勉強の途中でコーヒーを飲んでひと息つこう！
べんきょう の とちゅう で こーひー を のんで ひといき つこう！
benkyou no tochuu de koohii wo nonde hitoiki tsukou!
Let’s take a short break and have some coffee in the middle of studying!

Now it’s your turn!
Think about something that happened 途中で, or something you noticed 途中に, and try making your own sentence.

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

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