This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.
Verb [dictionary form] + うちにPrimary
Verb [ない-form] + うちに
い-Adjective + うちに
な-Adjective [+ な] + うちに
Noun + の + うちに
This means you should do something while a situation is still true. It is like saying 'while' or 'before' something changes.
熱いうちに、どうぞ召し上がってください。
Please eat it while it's hot.
雨が降らないうちに、家に帰りましょう。
Let's go home before it starts raining.
本を読んでいるうちに、いつの間にか眠ってしまった。
While I was reading a book, I fell asleep before I knew it.
若いうちに、いろいろな経験をした方がいいですよ。
You should have a lot of different experiences while you're young.
日本にいるうちに、一度富士山に登ってみたいです。
While I'm in Japan, I'd like to try climbing Mt. Fuji once.
This word has two main uses. It can mean 'do something before it's too late'. Or it can mean 'something changed slowly while I was doing something else'.
This is different from 「〜間に」 (aida ni). Use 「うちに」 when a chance might disappear. The time is not always clear. For example, 'before I forget'. Use 「〜間に」 when the time has a clear start and end. For example, 'during summer vacation'. 「うちに」 is for things you do because a situation is changing. 「〜間に」 is for things you do inside a set time.
Don't use this when something happens very suddenly. For example, if a phone rings during a meeting, don't use うちに. Use other words for sudden events.
Often confused with(2)
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