中途

ちゅうと

in the middle, half-way

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"中途" means "midway" or "halfway through" and is used to describe something happening or occurring in the middle of a journey, process, or event. It often implies interruption or a point between start and finish.

Common Collocations

  • 中途下来 (stop midway): used when pausing during an activity or journey.
  • 中途放弃 (give up halfway): indicates quitting before completion.
  • 中途遇到 (encounter midway): often used with unexpected events occurring during a process.

Usage Notes

"中途" is typically used as an adverbial phrase indicating time or position within an event or journey. It can modify verbs to show that an action happens in the middle of something. It is more formal than colloquial expressions like "路上" but both are common.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "中途" with "" which is a Japanese word with similar meaning but different usage. In Chinese, "中途" is the standard term for "midway". Avoid mixing it with "中间" which means "middle" but refers more to spatial or abstract middle rather than temporal or process midpoint.

Example Sentences

We stopped midway to take a break.

He gave up the competition halfway.

It rained halfway through, so we had to find a place to take shelter.