〜間に (〜あいだに): This means 'while' or 'during'. It shows something happens at one moment within a longer time.

Dictionary

〜間に

This means 'while' or 'during'. It shows something happens at one moment within a longer time.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedSimultaneous ActionsGrammar

Noun + の + 間にPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + 間に

い-Adjective + 間に

な-Adjective + な + 間に

This means 'while' or 'during'. It shows something happens at one moment within a longer time.

社長がご不在の間に、いくつかお電話がありました。

While the company president was out, there were several phone calls.

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

日本にいる間に、一度富士山に登りたいです。

While I am in Japan, I want to climb Mt. Fuji once.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialDesireTravel & Transportation

誰も見ていない間に、こっそりお菓子を食べた。

While no one was watching, I secretly ate a snack.

CasualPastNegativeClause InitialDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

部屋が静かな間に、集中して勉強しよう。

Let's concentrate and study while the room is quiet.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialVolitionalEducation Daily Life

子供が寝ている間に済ませた家事は山ほどある。

There is a mountain of housework that I got done while the child was sleeping.

NeutralPastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Daily Life Home & Housing

Imagine a timeline. "間に" is like a window on that timeline. You do something quick inside that window. "に" pinpoints the exact moment you do it.

This is different from "〜間" (aida). Use "〜間に" when something short happens during a longer time. Use "〜間" when something continues for the whole long time. For example, "While Mom slept, the phone rang" (short action). But "While Mom slept, kids watched TV" (long action).

Don't use this when something happens for the whole time. For example, you cannot say "I studied the whole summer vacation." The action must be short.

Often confused with(3)

〜間

This means something happens for the whole time another thing is happening. It's like saying 'while' or 'during' in English.

〜最中に

This means something happens right in the middle of another action. It often shows something surprising or an interruption.

〜うちに

This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ながら

This grammar shows two actions happening at the same time. You do one thing while you do another. The second action is the main one.

〜うちに

This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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Dictionary

〜間に

This means 'while' or 'during'. It shows something happens at one moment within a longer time.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedSimultaneous ActionsGrammar

Noun + の + 間にPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + 間に

い-Adjective + 間に

な-Adjective + な + 間に

This means 'while' or 'during'. It shows something happens at one moment within a longer time.

社長がご不在の間に、いくつかお電話がありました。

While the company president was out, there were several phone calls.

PolitePastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

日本にいる間に、一度富士山に登りたいです。

While I am in Japan, I want to climb Mt. Fuji once.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialDesireTravel & Transportation

誰も見ていない間に、こっそりお菓子を食べた。

While no one was watching, I secretly ate a snack.

CasualPastNegativeClause InitialDeclarativeFood & Dining Daily Life

部屋が静かな間に、集中して勉強しよう。

Let's concentrate and study while the room is quiet.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialVolitionalEducation Daily Life

子供が寝ている間に済ませた家事は山ほどある。

There is a mountain of housework that I got done while the child was sleeping.

NeutralPastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Daily Life Home & Housing

Imagine a timeline. "間に" is like a window on that timeline. You do something quick inside that window. "に" pinpoints the exact moment you do it.

Don't use this when something happens for the whole time. For example, you cannot say "I studied the whole summer vacation." The action must be short.

Often confused with(3)

〜間

This means something happens for the whole time another thing is happening. It's like saying 'while' or 'during' in English.

〜最中に

This means something happens right in the middle of another action. It often shows something surprising or an interruption.

〜うちに

This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ながら

This grammar shows two actions happening at the same time. You do one thing while you do another. The second action is the main one.

〜うちに

This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜間に

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(3)

Contrasts with(2)

Prerequisites3

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〜間に

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(3)

Contrasts with(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery