途中で (tochuu de) — On the way / partway through
Something else happened while you were on your way, or partway through a task.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
「途中で」means "on the way" or "partway through".
How to attach
- It attaches in two ways: (1) to a noun as 「N の 途中で」— 会議の 途中で, 食事の 途中で.
- (2) to a verb in the dictionary form (辞書形) as 「V 途中で」— 行く 途中で, 帰る 途中で.
- It shows up most with verbs of going and coming: 行く、帰る、来る.
Watch out
It marks a moment when the action has started but is not finished, so the verb never goes into the た form — 行った 途中で is wrong, 行く 途中で is right.
Also
「途中で」points to another thing that happened at that moment; to talk about a place alone you may hear 「途中に」, but that is much rarer.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
会社へ 行く 途中で、友達に 会いました。
かいしゃへ いく とちゅうで、ともだちに あいました。
I met a friend on the way to work.
会議の 途中で、電話が 鳴りました。
かいぎの とちゅうで、でんわが なりました。
The phone rang partway through the meeting.
家へ 帰る 途中で、スーパーで 買い物を しました。
いえへ かえる とちゅうで、スーパーで かいものを しました。
I did some shopping at the supermarket on the way home.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Which correctly says "on the way to work"?
💡 Hint: The action is not finished yet.
The verb before 途中で takes the dictionary form. The た form does not work.
Which fills the blank in 「会議 ___ 途中で 帰りました」?
💡 Hint: What joins it to a noun?
With a noun it is 「N の 途中で」: 会議の 途中で.
Which sentence says you went home in the middle of the film, before it ended?
💡 Hint: The action has started but is not finished.
途中で = partway — after the action starts and before it ends. 前に is before, and 後で and てから are after it finishes.
Your score: /3