지금 회의 중이니까 방해하지 마.jigeum hoeui junginikka banghaehaji ma.
We’re in a meeting now, so don’t interrupt.
Breakdown of jigeum hoeui junginikka banghaehaji ma.
이다ida
to be
지금jigeum
now
회의hoeui
meeting
~중~jung
during
Questions & Answers about jigeum hoeui junginikka banghaehaji ma.
What does the word in the middle, 중, actually mean in this sentence?
중 is a bound noun meaning “middle” or “in the process of.” With a preceding noun, it means “in the middle of [that noun].” So 회의 중 = “in the middle of a meeting.”
- Other common collocations: 통화 중 (on a call), 수업 중 (in class), 회의 진행 중 (meeting in progress).
- With verbs, you’ll see V-는 중: e.g., 읽는 중 (in the middle of reading), 운전하는 중 (driving right now).
Why is it 중이니까 and not just 중니까?
Because 중 is a noun and needs the copula 이다 (“to be”) to link to the reason ending -니까. So it’s:
- 중 + 이다 + -니까 → 중이니까 (“since [I/we] are in the middle of …”). You can see the same pattern with other nouns: 학생이니까 (“since [I’m] a student”), 비상사태이니까 (“since it’s an emergency”).
Why use -니까 here? Could I say -서/라서 instead?
-니까 explicitly gives a reason that often leads to a command, suggestion, or request—so it’s a very natural fit before 방해하지 마 (“don’t …”).
- Using -서/라서 (e.g., 회의 중이라서) is typically used for cause-and-effect statements, and many textbooks advise avoiding it before imperatives/requests. In real life, people sometimes do say things like 회의 중이라서, 잠깐만 기다려 주세요, but if you want the most natural, textbook-safe choice for a prohibition/request, go with .