Learn Japanese grammar: 間 【あいだ】(aida). Meaning: while; during; between.
Meaning 1) while/during
This is used when you do something the whole time during a certain period of time, so it is often paired together with words like ずっと “continuously”.
電車に乗っている間、ずっと本を読んでいました。
densha ni notteiru aida, zutto hon o yonde imashita.
I read a book the entire time I was on the train.
Instead if you want to say something happened at one point “during” some time, use 間に (aida ni).
Meaning 2) between
This can express the physical space between [A] and [B].
名古屋は東京と大阪の間にあります。
nagoya wa toukyou to oosaka no aida ni arimasu.
Nagoya is in between Tokyo and Osaka.
Or the time between [A] and [B].
9時から5時までの間、仕事です。
ku ji kara go ji made no aida, shigoto desu.
I work from 9 to 5.
Extra Notes
The kanji 間 can sometimes be read as ま (ma) to express a similar meaning as あいだ (aida). However, this reading is only used in some set phrases or to express something more figurative (usually time related).
寝る間もないほどいそがしい。
neru ma mo nai hodo isogashii.
I’m too busy to sleep.
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間 - Example Sentences 例文
Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.
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Example #1
昨日は、家にいる間、ずっとテレビを見ていました。
Example #2
日本にいる間は、毎日日本語を話すつもりです。
Example #3
サイクリングをしている間、ずっと雨が降っていました。
Example #4
食事の間、彼女と一緒に映画を見ました。
Example #5
学校にいる間は、スマホを使ってはいけません。
Example #6
バスに乗っている間、ずっと寝ていました。
Example #7
バスを待っている間、後ろのおばあさんと話をしていました。
Example #8
日本にいる間は私の家に泊まって。
Example #9
あなたがここにいる間は私がいろいろ案内してあげましょう。
Example #10
この二人の間にどのような関係が生まれますか？
Vocabulary List 語彙
| Kanji 漢字 | Kana カナ | English 英語 |
|---|---|---|
| 電車 | でんしゃ | train; electric train |
| 雨 | あめ | rain |
| 学校 | がっこう | school |
| 日本 | にほん | Japan |
| 家 | いえ | house, residence, family |
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