-N 중, V-는 중(while, during)

The grammar patterns '-N 중' and 'V-는 중' are used in Korean to express the idea of 'while' or 'during.' They indicate that an action or event is occurring simultaneously with another action or event.

1. -N 중

The pattern '-N 중' is used after a noun to indicate that something is happening while that noun is in progress. The noun indicates the event or activity that is happening, and '-중' means "in the middle of" or 'during.'

Here are some examples:

수업 중에는 휴대폰을 사용하지 않습니다. (During class, we do not use our phones.)
비행기를 타는 중에는 안전벨트를 꼭 매셔야 합니다. (While on an airplane, you must wear your seatbelt.)
축구 시합 중에는 반칙을 하면 안 됩니다. (During a soccer match, you should not commit a foul.)

2. V-는 중

The pattern 'V-는 중' is used after a verb stem to indicate that the action is in progress. The verb stem indicates the action that is happening, and '-는 중' means "in the process of" or 'while.'

Here are some examples:

밥을 먹는 중에 전화가 왔어요. (I got a phone call while I was eating.)
편지를 쓰는 중에 눈물이 흘렀어요. (Tears flowed while I was writing a letter.)
수영을 하는 중에 물고기를 봤어요. (I saw a fish while swimming.)

Note that the verb stem in 'V-는 중' ends in the consonant '-ㄴ' when the verb stem ends in a vowel, and "-는" when the verb stem ends in a consonant.

Both '-N 중' and 'V-는 중' are grammar patterns in Korean for indicating that something is happening simultaneously with another action or event.

-N 중, V-는 중(while, during)