What does ～間に (while / during) mean? Japanese grammar N4

How to use it

States that an event occurs or a change completes at a point within time span A.

• に marks a point that lies within the time span. Clause B is usually a short event, a finite number of occurrences, or a completed resulting change.
• If に is dropped, the sentence shifts to meaning B lasts throughout the entire span. Compare 留守の間、犬を預かった (looked after the dog for the whole time [I was] away) and 留守の間に荷物が届いた (a package arrived at some point [while I was] away).

Examples

• 日本(にっぽん)にいる間(ま)に、京都(きょうと)へ行(い)きたいです。

  I want to visit Kyoto while I am in Japan.

• 子(こ)どもが寝(ね)ている間(ま)に、買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)きました。

  I went shopping while the child was asleep.

Common mistakes

• Wrong旅行(りょこう)の間(ま)に、毎日(まいにち)写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)りました。

  Correct旅行(りょこう)の間(ま)、毎日(まいにち)写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)りました。

  毎日 shows the action repeating throughout the whole trip, so 間 without に should be used.

Exam tips

• An action completed once within a time span usually needs に.

Related patterns

• ～間
• ～うちに