Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘While’ or ‘During a time when…’
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that an action or event occurs within a specific time interval or during a continuous state.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Dictionary/Te-iru form) + 間に
I-adjective + 間に
Na-adjective + な + 間に
Verb (nai-form) + 間に (often ‘before’ context)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in reports or formal speeches to describe events occurring within a period.
Informal Situations
Commonly used to ask for favors or describe daily activities.
Written Language
Used in literature, news, and essays to set the temporal context.
Spoken Language
Highly common. The ‘ni’ particle is sometimes dropped in very casual speech, but ‘aidani’ is the standard.
💡 Common Applications
Specific Events during a Duration
Used when a momentary or short action takes place within a longer, continuous state.
Example: Wait for the bus -> Read a news article.
Limited Time Opportunity
Used to emphasize that something should happen while a certain condition still lasts.
Example: While young -> Travel.
Background Actions
Setting the scene for an unexpected or specific event that happened in the background.
Example: While sleeping -> Thief entered.
Frequency
Very frequent in both daily conversation and formal writing.
Difficulty
JLPT N4 (Lower Intermediate)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
赤ちゃんが寝ている間に、本を読みました。
Furigana: あかちゃん（赤）ちゃんがね（寝）ているあいだ（間）に、ほん（本）をよ（読）みました。
Romaji: Akachan ga nete iru aida ni, hon o yomimashita.
English: I read a book while the baby was sleeping.
Example #2
私が留守の間に、牛乳を買っておいてください。
Furigana: わたし（私）がるす（留守）のあいだ（間）に、ぎゅうにゅう（牛乳）をか（買）っておいてください。
Romaji: Watashi ga rusu no aida ni, gyuunyuu o katte oite kudasai.
English: Please buy some milk while I am out.
Example #3
散歩をしている間に、雨が降り始めました。
Furigana: さんぽ（散歩）をしているあいだ（間）に、あめ（雨）がふ（降）りはじめ（始）ました。
Romaji: Sanpo o shite iru aida ni, ame ga furihajimemashita.
English: It started raining while I was taking a walk.
Example #4
若い間に、いろいろなことを勉強したほうがいい。
Furigana: わか（若）いあいだ（間）に、いろいろなことをべんきょう（勉強）したほうがいい。
Romaji: Wakai aida ni, iroiro na koto o benkyou shita hou ga ii.
English: You should study many things while you are young.
Example #5
両親が外出している間に、部屋を掃除しました。
Furigana: りょうしん（両親）がいしゅつ（外出）しているあいだ（間）に、へや（部屋）をそうじ（掃除）しました。
Romaji: Ryoushin ga gaishutsu shite iru aida ni, heya o souji shimashita.
English: I cleaned the room while my parents were out.
Example #6
家族が旅行に行っている間に、泥棒が入りました。
Furigana: かぞく（家族）がりょこう（旅行）にい（行）っているあいだ（間）に、どろぼう（泥棒）がはい（入）りました。
Romaji: Kazoku ga ryokou ni itte iru aida ni, dorobou ga hairimashita.
English: A thief broke in while the family was on a trip.
Example #7
バスを待っている間に、地図を確認しましょう。
Furigana: バスをま（待）っているあいだ（間）に、ちず（地図）をかくにん（確認）しましょう。
Romaji: Basu o matte iru aida ni, chizu o kakunin shimashou.
English: Let’s check the map while we wait for the bus.
Example #8
太陽が出ている間に、写真を撮りなさい。
Furigana: たいよう（太陽）がで（出）ているあいだ（間）に、しゃしん（写真）を撮（と）りなさい。
Romaji: Taiyou ga dete iru aida ni, shashin o torinasai.
English: Take a photo while the sun is still out.
Example #9
妹がテレビを見ている間に、宿題を終わらせました。
Furigana: いもうと（妹）がテレビをみ（見）ているあいだ（間）に、しゅくだい（宿題）をお（終）わらせました。
Romaji: Imouto ga terebi o mite iru aida ni, shukudai o owarasemashita.
English: I finished my homework while my sister was watching TV.
Example #10
スープが熱い間に、食べてください。
Furigana: スープがあつ（熱）いあいだ（間）に、た（食）べてください。
Romaji: Suupu ga atsui aida ni, tabete kudasai.
English: Please eat the soup while it is hot.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Completeness within a window
The action in the second half of the sentence must be completed within the time frame of the first half.
Example: Neteru aida ni yume o mita. (I had a dream while sleeping.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ‘Aidani’ for an action that lasts the whole time.
✅ Aida (without ‘ni’)
‘Aida’ describes an action that continues for the entire duration of the time frame, while ‘Aidani’ describes a specific point within that time frame.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. Suitable for all politeness levels depending on the verb ending of the sentence.
Social Situations: Often used when giving instructions or relating stories about things that happened when someone wasn’t looking.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
Aidani vs. Uchi ni
‘Aidani’ is more objective about time, whereas ‘Uchi ni’ often implies a sense of urgency or ‘before the state changes’.
When to use: Use ‘Aidani’ for simple timing; use ‘Uchi ni’ when there is a risk of the opportunity disappearing.
📝 Conjugation Notes
For Nouns, you must use the particle ‘no’ (Noun + の + 間に). For Na-adjectives, use ‘na’ (Adj + な + 間に).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a clear distinction between ‘Aida’ (interval) and ‘Aida ni’. The ‘ni’ functions as a point-in-time marker.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Aida’ as the whole ‘block’ of time, and ‘Ni’ as a specific ‘pin’ dropped into that block.
Other Grammar
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