Time: during

間

V (dictionary)

N + の

+ 間

間あいだ means “while” or “during”. Used to express something that is done for the whole period of time.

Example

電車に乗のっている間、ゲームをしてた。 While I was on the train, I was playing a game.

Can also be used to talk about a distance between two physical places or the time between two things.

Example

１時から９じまでの間、寝ねます。 I sleep between 1AM and 9AM.

間に

V (casual, non-past)

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + の

+ 間に

A first meaning is similar to 間あいだ (while), but with intentionality.

Example

電車に乗のった間に、本を読みました。 While I was on the train, I read a book.

A second meaning is a statement of something that happened during a time period, independently of your actions. Contrary to 間, it doesn’t include the whole time period. So 間に means that at a point during the time period, something happened.

Example

夜よるの間に、隣となりの木が落おちていた。 During the night, the tree next door fell.

ながら

V-ます

+ ながら + ...

Means “while”, “simultaneously”. The difference with ついでに is that here the main action is the second one.

Example

歩あるきながら電でん話わを見ています。 While walking, I’m looking at my phone.

ついでに

V (dictionary)

V (た)

N + の

+ ついでに

Means “while”, “at the same time”. The difference with ながら is that here the main action is the first one.

Example

スーパーに行くついでに、おにぎりを買かってくれませんか。 While you’re going to the supermarket, could you bring onigiri?

中

中ちゅう・中じゅう means different things depending on its pronunciation:

• ちゅう is used when pointing a specific time: “during”, “at some point”.
• じゅう is used for the entire time or area: “through”, “within”, “before it ends”.

Example

午後ごご中に会議かいぎがある。 There is a meeting in the afternoon (ちゅう).

今年ことし中にスウェーデンに行きたい。 I want to go to Sweden before the end of this year (じゅう).

うちに

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + の

+ うちに

Means “while”. The nuance is that the time is optimal and should be taken advantage of.

Example

晴はれるうちに散歩さんぽしましょう。 Let’s take a walk while the weather is nice.

途中で・途中に

V (dictionary)

N + の

+ 途中で・途中に

途中とちゅうで・途中とちゅうに means “in the middle of”, “on the way”.

Example

帰かえる途中で自じ動どう販はん売ばい機きで飲のみみ物ものを買かった。 On the way home, I bought a drink from the vending machine.

ているところ

Means “in the process/middle of doing”. See ているところ.

最中に

V (ている)

N + の

+ 最中に

最中さいちゅうに means “in the middle of”. Happens during something else, interrupting or disturbing it.

Example

運転うんてんしていた最中に鹿しかが現あらわれた。 While I was driving, a deer appeared.

しばらく

Means “for a while”, “for now”.

Example

しばらくお待まちください。 Please wait for a moment.