Japanese grammar
What does ～間 (throughout the duration) mean? Japanese grammar N4
～間 (throughout the duration) means during the whole time of ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vている + 間 Aい + 間 Aな + な間 N + の間 |
| Romaji | ~ aida |
| Meaning | during the whole time of ~ |
How to use it
States that a state or action B continues throughout the entire time span A.
- 間 without に emphasizes that two states/actions both last from beginning to end of a span. Clause B is usually a continuous action or state.
- If B occurs only once at a point within span A, 間に must be used. This is an important pair to distinguish at N4.
Examples
夏休みの間、毎日アルバイトをしました。
I worked part-time every day during summer vacation.
母が料理をしている間、私は部屋を掃除していました。
While my mother was cooking, I was cleaning the room.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong留守の間、友達が一度来ました。
Correct留守の間に、友達が一度来ました。
"Came once" is an event occurring at a single point within the time away from home, so 間に should be used.
Exam tips
- If the second clause has ずっと／毎日 or an ongoing action → 間; if it has 一度／突然 or a one-time change → 間に.