Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
While / During / In the meantime
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that a specific action or event occurs at some point or is completed within the duration of another action or state.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form/ている form) + 間に
Noun + の + 間に
い-adjective + 間に
な-adjective + な + 間に
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Suitable for formal writing and speech.
Informal Situations
Very commonly used in informal situations.
Written Language
Frequently used in written materials.
Spoken Language
Very common in spoken language.
💡 Common Applications
Describing actions completed during a specific time period.
Used when something happens or is completed at some point while the first clause’s state or action is ongoing.
Example: 夏休みの間に、本をたくさん読んだ。 (Natsuyasumi no aida ni, hon o takusan yonda.) – During summer vacation, I read many books.
Talking about actions done during breaks or waiting times.
Used for actions performed during a temporary pause or delay.
Example: 電車が止まっている間に、メールをチェックした。(Densha ga tomatte iru aida ni, me-ru o chekku shita.) – While the train was stopped, I checked my email.
Referring to something that happened when someone was absent or busy.
Describes an event that took place during a period when a person was unavailable or occupied.
Example: 母が買い物に行っている間に、弟はお菓子を全部食べた。(Haha ga kaimono ni itte iru aida ni, otouto wa okashi o zenbu tabeta.) – While my mother was out shopping, my younger brother ate all the snacks.
Frequency
Very frequent.
Difficulty
N4
Example Sentences
日本にいる間に、富士山に登りたいです。
While I am in Japan, I want to climb Mt. Fuji.
母が寝ている間に、掃除をしました。
While my mother was sleeping, I cleaned.
夏休みの間に、たくさん本を読みました。
During summer vacation, I read many books.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Distinction between 間に (aida ni) and 間 (aida).
間に (aida ni) indicates that a specific, often completed, action or event occurs at some point *within* the duration of the first clause. 間 (aida) indicates that the action or state in the second clause continues *throughout* the entire duration of the first clause.
Example: 母が寝ている間に、掃除をした。(While my mother was sleeping, I cleaned [at some point within that time]). 母が寝ている間、ずっと静かにしていた。(While my mother was sleeping, I remained quiet [for the entire duration]).
The action in the second clause using 間に is typically a single event or something completed during the time.
The focus is on something happening *during* the period, not necessarily continuously throughout.
Example: 先生が話している間に、質問を一つしました。(While the teacher was talking, I asked one question [a single event within the talking time]).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 間に when the second action/state lasts the entire duration.
✅ Use 間 (aida) instead.
Remember, 間に is for an action *within* the period, 間 is for an action/state *spanning* the entire period.
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard, neutral.
Social Situations: Used in general conversation and writing to describe concurrent events.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
間に (aida ni) vs. 間 (aida)
間に emphasizes an event occurring *within* a time frame. 間 emphasizes an action/state continuing *throughout* a time frame.
When to use: Use 間に when the second action is a specific event or is completed during the period of the first clause. Use 間 when the second action/state is continuous for the entire duration of the first clause.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects to Verb (dictionary/ている), Noun + の, い-adjective, な-adjective + な.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced as “a-i-da-ni”. Pay attention to the “ai” diphthong and the clear “ni” particle.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 間に as “in the interval” or “in the meantime,” highlighting that something specific happens during that period, not necessarily continuously.
Practice Exercises
音楽を（＿＿＿）、友達からメッセージが来ました。 (Ongaku o [___], tomodachi kara messeji ga kimashita.)
聞く間
聞いている間
聞く間に
聞いている間に
子供が（＿＿＿）、夕食の準備をしました。(Kodomo ga [＿＿＿], yuushoku no junbi o shimashita.)
寝る間
寝る間に
寝ている間
寝ている間に
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