Learn Hardcore Japanese: kaigityuu ha syuutyuu ga hituyou desu. - Concentration is necessary during the meeting.

It marks the topic. 会議中は means “as for during meetings” or “during meetings (speaking generally).” It sets the time frame as the context for the statement that follows.

Why is は pronounced “wa” here?

When は is used as the topic particle, it’s pronounced “wa.” The spelling is historical; pronunciation changes in this particle position only.

Can I use に instead of は (会議中に vs. 会議中は)? What’s the difference?

会議中は sets the time as the topic and often sounds like a general rule: “During meetings, …”
会議中に marks the time when something happens. It’s especially natural with action verbs: 会議中に集中する必要があります (“You need to concentrate during the meeting”).
You can say 会議中に集中が必要です, but with a stative predicate like 必要です, many speakers prefer 会議中は.
Adding both gives emphasis/contrast: 会議中には集中が必要です.

Why is が used with 集中? Could I use は or を?

The pattern for “X is necessary” is typically Xが必要です. Here, が marks the thing that is necessary (subject-like role).

集中は必要です is possible but tends to be contrastive (“As for concentration (as opposed to something else), it is necessary”).
を is not used because 必要 is not a verb taking a direct object.

What’s the difference between 集中が必要です and 集中する必要があります?

集中が必要です: “Concentration is necessary.” It treats concentration as a thing/quality that is required.
集中する必要があります: “It is necessary to concentrate.” It focuses on the action.
Both are natural; the second is often clearer when talking about someone’s behavior.

What kind of word is 必要, and how do I use it?

必要 is a noun/na-adjective meaning “necessity/necessary.”

Predicate: 集中が必要です (“Concentration is necessary.”)
Attributive: 必要な書類 (“necessary documents”)

How do I negate the sentence (“not necessary”)?

Common options:

Polite, neutral: 会議中は集中が必要ありません。
Polite, contrastive: 会議中は集中は必要ありません。 (implies other things might be needed)
Polite, formal-ish: 会議中は集中の必要はありません。
Plain: 会議中は集中が必要ない。
All are acceptable; choose tone based on context.

How do I make it a yes/no question?

Add か: 会議中は集中が必要ですか。 (“Is concentration necessary during the meeting?”)

What’s the difference between 会議中, 会議の間, and 会議の最中?

会議中: “during the meeting,” concise and neutral; very common.
会議の間: “for the duration of the meeting,” slightly more explicit about the whole span.
会議の最中: “right in the middle of the meeting,” emphasizes the midst/peak; often used when something happens at an inopportune moment.

Is it okay to have spaces between the words like in the given sentence?

Standard Japanese writing does not use spaces between words. The usual form is: 会議中は集中が必要です。

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Kaigichuu wa shuuchuu ga hitsuyou desu.
(会議中かいぎちゅう / はわ / 集中しゅうちゅう / 必要ひつよう / です)

Should I say 集中 or 集中力?

集中 = the act of concentrating.
集中力 = the ability/capacity to concentrate.
Both can be used: 会議中は集中が必要です (the act is required) or 会議中は集中力が必要です (you need the ability). The choice depends on whether you’re emphasizing the action or the capability.

Does 会議中 refer to one specific meeting or meetings in general?

It can mean either, depending on context. Japanese often uses the same form for generic statements. 会議中は… can mean “during a meeting” or “during meetings (in general).”

Can I say 会議中では or 会議中には? What’s the nuance?

Yes.

会議中には adds emphasis/contrast to the time frame: “In particular during meetings,…”
会議中では can set a domain and often carries a contrastive feel: “In the context of meetings (as opposed to elsewhere), …”
Plain 会議中は is the default.

Can I change the word order?

Some rearrangements work, others don’t:

Natural: 集中は会議中に必要です。 (contrastive focus on 集中)
Still natural: 会議中は、集中が必要です。 (comma optional)
Unnatural: 会議中は必要が集中です。 (predicate/subject order is wrong here)

How do I make it more casual or more formal?

Casual: 会議中は集中が必要だ。 / 会議中は集中しなきゃ。
Neutral polite (original): 会議中は集中が必要です。
Very formal/written: 会議中は集中が必要である。
Extra-polite: 会議中は集中が必要でございます。 (department-store politeness; use sparingly)

How do I say “We/you must focus during the meeting” more strongly?

会議中は集中しなければなりません。 (must)
会議中は集中するべきです。 (should; carries a moral/expectation nuance)
Casual: 会議中は集中しないといけない。

Is there another way to say “require” with 必要?

Yes, use the verb phrase 〜を必要とする:

この仕事は集中を必要とします。 (“This job requires concentration.”)

Why is 中 read as ちゅう here and not じゅう?

ちゅう is used for “in the middle of/during” a specific, bounded activity (e.g., 会議中, 授業中).
じゅう means “throughout/for the entire ~”: 一日中 (いちにちじゅう) “all day long,” 一年中 “throughout the year.”

How can I emphasize how necessary it is?

Use stronger words or intensifiers:

会議中は集中が不可欠です。 (indispensable)
会議中は集中が絶対に必要です。 (absolutely necessary)
Or shift to importance: 会議中は集中が非常に重要です。 (very important)