途中で or 時に? And what's the difference?


交差点を渡る **途中で/時に** ふと何かに当てられた

In this sentence, I wonder which one is correct or better than the other? I
also have trouble to understand what exactly 途中で is used for, since in almost
any case I feel like I could use 時 as well.




時に is generic "when", whereas 途中で is "in the middle". They are often
interchangeable but the latter would sound more emphatic. Compare 寝ている時に "when
I was sleeping" vs 寝ている途中で "in the middle of sleeping".

They are not always interchangeable. Use "when" if you don't have to say "in
the middle".

>   * 私は勉強する時に眼鏡をかけます。 I wear glasses when I study.
>   * [?] 私は勉強する途中で眼鏡をかけます。 [?] I wear glasses in the middle of studying.
>




時に is generic "when", whereas 途中で is "in the middle". They are often
interchangeable but the latter would sound more emphatic. Compare 寝ている時に "when
I was sleeping" vs 寝ている途中で "in the middle of sleeping".

They are not always interchangeable. Use "when" if you don't have to say "in
the middle".

>   * 私は勉強する時に眼鏡をかけます。 I wear glasses when I study.
>   * [?] 私は勉強する途中で眼鏡をかけます。 [?] I wear glasses in the middle of studying.
>

