寒中

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 寒中 is read as かんちゅう and is a noun for midwinter or the coldest part of winter.
• Basic usage: An event in that season appears in 寒中の水泳行事, while something continuing even then appears in 寒中にも膨らむ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Forms marking the season
  • Use 寒中の to modify a following noun and 寒中にも to emphasize that something occurs even during the cold period.
• Difference from 真冬
  • 真冬 is the everyday broad term for the middle of winter, while 寒中 readily marks the season's coldest period.