Looking up...
不在中に
fuzai-chū ni
while away
不在中に誰か来ましたか？
Did anyone come while I was away?
formal
during the time when someone is not present
不在中に荷物が届きました。
The package arrived while I was away.
不在中に電話がありました。
There was a phone call while I was out.
Commonly used in formal or written contexts, such as notices or messages.
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Casual
Use '不在中に' in formal or written contexts (e.g., notices, emails). For casual speech, '留守中に' is more natural.
Gold Rule
Temporal Marker
The particle 'に' indicates a specific time or period. '不在中に' literally means 'during the period of absence.'
Word Origin
不在 (fuzai, 'absence') + 中 (chū, 'during') + に (ni, adverbial particle). The phrase combines the noun 'absence' with a temporal marker to indicate 'during the period of absence.'
Usage Notes
Prefer '不在中に' in formal or written contexts. In casual speech, '留守中に' (while at home but absent) is more common. The phrase is often used in notices, messages, or formal settings to indicate actions taken during someone's absence.
Word Breakdown
不在
absence
noun中
during
nounに
adverbial particle
particle和英辞典