Structure
Noun + の + 中を
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About 中を
Coming from the base meaning of the noun 中 meaning 'inside', the addition of the case marking particleを in its role of identifying the place where an action is taking place creates a grammar structure that can be translated as 'doing (B) in (A)', 'doing (B) on (A)', or 'doing (B) inside of (A)'.
With this grammar point, (B) will be the action, while (A) will be a noun indicating the location.
With this grammar point, (B) will be the action, while (A) will be a noun indicating the location.
- 家に帰ってきたら、まずは弁当箱の中を空にしてっていつも言ってるじゃん!I always tell you to empty out the inside of the lunch box first thing when you come home, don't I?
- スーパーの中を何も買わずにウロウロしていたら、警備員のおじさんに怪しまれて声をかけられた。When I was wandering around (inside) the supermarket without buying anything, the security guard thought I was suspicious so he came to talk to me.
Caution - The person or thing that is doing the action that 中を is indicating may not actually be within the noun being marked with (A). A good example of this is 'doing (B) into (A)', such as with the う-Verb 覗く 'to peer'.
- 子供が妙に静かだな〜と思い、子供部屋の中を覗いてみたらただ寝ていただけだった。I thought, 'My kid is suspiciously quiet', so I peeked into their room, but they were just sleeping.
Examples
家の中を猫が駆け回っている。
The cat is running around the inside of the house.
トンネルの中を覗く。
I will peer into a tunnel.
鍋の中を洗う。
I will wash the inside of a pot.
人混みの中を歩くのは大変です。
It is hard to walk within a crowd of people.
この水族館は、まるで海の中を歩いているようだ。
This aquarium is like walking inside of the ocean.
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中を and 中では
Japanese Test 4 You
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中を – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (5 in total)
devonhollowood
Could you instead say 「家の中で猫が歩く」? If so, how would the meaning change (using で vs. を)?
Fuga
Hey there! You could say 家の中で猫が歩く,but there is a slight difference in nuance.
The sentence using で has the nuance of the cat just walking somewhere in the house, while the sentence using を has the nuance of the cat ‘traveling’ or walking around the house.devonhollowood
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks!
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