Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say “While I was sleeping, there was an earthquake” or “I want to travel while my friend is in Japan”? Use (short/plain form) + 間に (aida ni).
It marks the time-span during which something else happens, and the verb is typically in 〜ている form—even when you’re talking about the past.
1. Meaning & Core Idea
(short) + 間に means “while / during the time when …”. It sets a time window and tells what happened within that window.
- 日本に住んでいる間に、たくさん旅行に行きたいです。
I want to travel a lot while I’m living in Japan. - 留守の間に、友だちが来ました。
My friend came while I was out.
The verb before 間に is usually present short (often V-ている) even for past situations.
If you want to review “V-ている”, read this article: How to Use te iru（〜ている） in Japanese | Ongoing Action vs Ongoing Result Explained
2. How to Form It (verbs, adjectives, nouns)
You can put verbs / い-adjectives / な-adjectives / nouns before 間に:
Verb + 間に
寝ている間に、地震がありました。= There was an earthquake while I was sleeping.
私はいつも、ご飯を食べている間にテレビを見ます。= I always watch TV while eating my meals.
い-adjective + 間に
若い間に、たくさん勉強したほうがいいですよ。= You should study a lot while you’re young.
な-adjective + な + 間に
元気な間に、富士山に登りたいです。= I want to climb Mt. Fuji while I’m full of energy.
Noun + の + 間に
日本語のレッスンの間に、質問を二回しました。= During the Japanese lesson, I asked two questions.
3. ～あいだに vs. ながら / あいだ
- V (short) + 間に = a time span; some event happens during that span (subjects can differ).
私が昼寝している間に、姉は出かけました。 (I was sleeping; she went out.) - V-stem + ながら = two simultaneous actions by the same subject (focus on the 2nd clause).
歩きながら音楽を聞く = walk while listening.
If you want to review “～ながら”, please read this article: V-stem + nagara (〜ながら): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “While ~ing” in Japanese
4. Examples You’ll Actually Say
- 寝ている間に、雨が降りました。
It rained while I was sleeping. - 映画を見ている間に、ポップコーンを食べたいです。
I want to eat popcorn while watching the movie. - 外で遊んでいる間に、虫に刺されました。
I got bitten by an insect while playing outside. - 私が仕事に行っている間に、地震がありました。
There was an earthquake while I was at work. - 夏の間に、海へ行きたいです。
I want to go to the beach during the summer.
5. Common Mistakes and quick fixes
| ❌ Wrong | Why it’s wrong | ✅ Say this |
|---|---|---|
| 寝る間に雨が降りました。 | Use V-ている before 間に. | 寝ている間に雨が降りました。= It rained while I was sleeping. |
| 元気 間に富士山に登りたいです。 | な-adj needs な + 間に. | 元気な間に富士山に登りたいです。= I want to climb Mount Fuji while I’m still healthy. |
| 授業 間に質問した。 | Noun needs の + 間に. | 授業の間に質問した。= I asked a question during class. |
6. Practice Time!
Turn each cue into a sentence with (short) + 間に.
| Cue | Model answer |
|---|---|
| 私／着替える → 入らないで (request) | 私が着替えている間に、部屋に入らないでください。= Please do not enter the room while I am changing. |
| 父／ゴルフに行く → 母／銀行へ行った | 父がゴルフに行っている間に、母は銀行に行きました。= While Dad was out playing golf, Mom went to the bank. |
| 旅館の予約をする → 旅行の計画を考える | 旅館の予約をしている間に、旅行の計画を考えます。= While making reservations at the inn, I think about my travel plans. |
| 留守 → お金／盗まれた | 留守の間に、お金を盗まれました。= While I was away, my money was stolen. |
Your turn:
- 昼寝をする → 夢を見た
- 友だち／日本にいる → 一緒に旅行したい
- スピーチをする → たくさん写真を撮られた
7. FAQ
- QWhat’s the main difference between 間に (aida ni) and ながら (nagara) when both mean “while”?
- A
間に (aida ni): Used for a time span. Something happens during that time, or an action continues throughout that time. The subjects of the two actions can be different. Example: 私が寝ている間に、母が洗濯しました。 (While I was sleeping, my mom did the laundry.)
ながら (nagara): Used for two simultaneous actions performed by the same subject. The second action is usually the main one. Example: 音楽を聞きながら勉強します。 (I study while listening to music.)
- QWhy do I usually use V-ている (te iru) before 間に (aida ni), even for past events?
- A
Because 間に refers to a period of time in which an action or state is ongoing. The -te iru form perfectly captures this “ongoing” aspect. Even if the entire event happened in the past, the “while” part describes an action that was in progress at that time.
Example: 私が寝ている間に、地震がありました。 (While I was sleeping [ongoing action], an earthquake occurred [one-time event].)
The past tense is then typically shown in the final verb of the sentence.
- QCan 間に (aida ni) be used without に (ni)? What’s the difference?
- A
Yes, you can use just 間 (aida) without に.
〜間 (aida): Emphasizes the entire duration of the first action/state. The second action continues throughout the entire period. Example: 夏休みの間、ずっと日本にいました。 (I was in Japan throughout the entire summer vacation.)
〜間に (aida ni): Emphasizes that something happens at some point within that duration, or that an action continues during that period. Example: 夏休みの間に、富士山に登りたい。 (I want to climb Mt. Fuji sometime during summer vacation.)
- QHow do I connect adjectives and nouns to 間に (aida ni)?
- A
I-adjective: Attach directly.
若い間に、たくさん旅行したいです。 (I want to travel a lot while I’m young.)Na-adjective: Add な (na).
元気な間に、色々したいです。 (I want to do various things while I’m energetic.)Noun: Add の (no).
会議の間に、トイレに行きました。 (I went to the restroom during the meeting.)
Conclusion
You can now:
- ✅ Use (short) + 間に to say “while / during …”
- ✅ Put V-ている / い-adj / な-adj + な / N + の before 間に
- ✅ Avoid the classic slip (× 寝る間に → 〇 寝ている間に) and keep the verb in present short even for past situations
Practice by writing three things that happened while you were doing something else today. Then swap in an adjective or noun phrase (e.g., 若い間に, 夏の間に) to stretch the pattern.
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