JLPT N3 Time, timing, and gradual change

中 (chuu / juu): in the middle of; during; throughout

Use 中（ちゅう / じゅう） when you want to express that something is ongoing, happening at some point, or occurring throughout a period.

会議中なので、後でかけ直します。 — I'm in a meeting, so I'll call you back later.

途中で / 途中に (tochuu de): on the way; in the middle of

Use 途中で / 途中に（とちゅうで / とちゅうに） when you want to mark something happening during a route, process, or activity.

帰る途中で、友達に会った。 — I met a friend on the way home.

最中に (saichuu ni): in the middle of; while

Use 最中に（さいちゅうに） when you want to show that something happens right during another ongoing action.

会議の最中に、電話が鳴った。 — The phone rang in the middle of the meeting.

うちに (uchi ni): while; before

Use うちに when you want to do something while a situation still holds or before it changes.

若いうちに、いろいろな経験をした方がいい。 — While you are young, you should have many experiences.

際に (sai ni): when; at the time of

Use 際に（さいに） when you want to mark the time or occasion for an action, often in formal notices.

お帰りの際に、受付に鍵を返してください。 — When you leave, please return the key to reception.

たとたん (ta totan): as soon as; just when

Use たとたん when you want to show that something happened immediately after another action.

家を出たとたん、雨が降り始めた。 — As soon as I left the house, it started raining.

たびに (tabi ni): whenever; every time

Use たびに when you want to say the same thing happens each time another thing occurs.

彼に会うたびに、元気をもらう。 — Every time I meet him, I feel encouraged.

ごとに (goto ni): every time; each; at intervals of

Use ごとに when you want to express that something happens at regular intervals or every time something occurs.

一時間ごとに薬を飲む。 — I take medicine every hour.

一度に (ichido ni): all at once; at the same time

Use 一度に（いちどに） when you want to express that multiple things happen simultaneously or that someone does everything in a single attempt.

一度に全部食べないで。 — Don't eat it all at once.

ぶりに (buri ni): for the first time in (period of time)

Use ぶりに when you want to describe doing something again after a long time.

三年ぶりに故郷に帰った。 — I went back to my hometown for the first time in three years.

から～にかけて (kara ni kakete): through; from [A] to [B]

Use から～にかけて when you want to describe a continuous stretch from one point to another, in space or time.

朝から夜にかけて働いた。 — I worked from morning through night.

しばらく (shibaraku): for a while; for the time being

Use しばらく when you want to refer to a short or indefinite period of time.

ここでしばらく待ってください。 — Please wait here for a while.

すでに (sude ni): already

Use すでに when you want to state that something has already happened or is already the case.

会議はすでに始まっています。 — The meeting has already started.

ついに (tsui ni): finally; at last

Use ついに when you want to mark the final result after a long wait, effort, or process.

長い努力の末、ついに合格した。 — After long effort, I finally passed.

ふと (futo): suddenly; accidentally; unexpectedly

Use ふと when you want to express that something happened without planning, warning, or conscious intention.

ふと昔のことを思い出した。 — I suddenly remembered the past.

ついでに (tsuide ni): while you are at it; on the way

Use ついでに when you want to do an extra action using the same opportunity.

買い物のついでに、郵便局へ行った。 — While shopping, I also went to the post office.

たものだ (ta mono da): used to; would often

Use たものだ when you want to look back nostalgically on past habits or common past situations.

子供の頃、よく川で遊んだものだ。 — When I was a child, I used to play in the river often.

上で (ue de): after; when; for the purpose of

Use 上で（うえで） when you want to say that something happens after a necessary step, or that something is important in the process of doing something.

契約書の内容を確認した上で、サインしてください。 — Please sign after checking the contents of the contract.

一方だ (ippou da): more and more; keep on (one-directional)

Use 一方だ（いっぽうだ） when you want to describe a one-directional trend that continues over time, often worsening.

に慣れる (ni nareru): get used to

Use に慣れる when you want to become accustomed to something.

新しい仕事に慣れてきた。 — I have started to get used to my new job.