Japanese

Pronunciation

• On'yomi
• IPA^(key): [sa̠.i.t͡ɕɯᵝ.ɯᵝ]
• サ​イチュー (Atamadaka)^[1]

Noun

最中 ‎(hiragana さいちゅう, romaji saichū)

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

Etymology 2

最 ‎(sai, “most”) +‎ 中 ‎(naka, “inside”)

Pronunciation

• Jūbakoyomi
• IPA^(key): [sa̠.ɴa̠.ka̠]
• サ​なか (Atamadaka)^[1]

Noun

最中 ‎(hiragana さなか, romaji sanaka)

1. at its prime, midst

Proper noun

最中 ‎(hiragana さなか, romaji Sanaka)

1. A female given name

Etymology 3

最 ‎(motto) +‎ 中 ‎(naka, “inside”)

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• IPA^(key): [mo̞.na̠.ka̠]
• も​なか (Atamadaka)^[1]

Noun

最中 ‎(hiragana もなか, romaji monaka)

1. wafer cake filled with bean jam

References

1. 1 2 3 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, ISBN 978-4-14-011112-3