の間(あいだ)に

While, During, Between, Period

Structure

Verb + 間(あいだ)に
［い］Adjective + 間(あいだ)に
［な］Adjective + な + 間(あいだ)に
Noun + の + 間(あいだ)に

Details

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Standard
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一般

About の間に

間(あいだ)に is an expression that can be used with almost any type of word, to highlight that (A) is the period/space within which something else will or did happen/exist. It may also be a period/space 'until' something else will or did happen/exist. It is a combination of the noun 間(あいだ), and the case marking particle に.
When used with verbs or い-Adjectives, 間(あいだ)に will simply follow the verb/adjective. However, の will be required after nouns, while な will be required after な-Adjectives.

あくびをしている間(あいだ)に笑(わら)わせないでって前(まえ)も言(い)ったじゃないか。
I told you before not to make me laugh while I'm yawning!
若(わか)い間(あいだ)に色々(いろいろ)な経験(けいけん)をした方(ほう)がいいです。
It would be better if you experience many different things while you are young.
暇(ひま)な間(あいだ)に、部屋(へや)の片付(かたづ)けをしておこう。
While I'm free, I should clean my room. (Because I can't when I am busy)
冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)とシンクの間(あいだ)に箸(はし)を落(お)としてしまった。
I accidentally dropped a chopstick between the sink and the refrigerator.

When 間(あいだ)に is being used to express the period/space 'until' something happens/exists, it will be paired with まで.

1月(がつ)から4月(がつ)までの間(あいだ)に日本(にほん)に行(い)きたいと思(おも)います。
I think I want to go to Japan sometime between January and April.
13時(じ)から15時(じ)までの間(あいだ)に連絡(れんらく)をください。
Please give us a call from the period of between 1pm and 3 pm.

With 間(あいだ)に, the (B) action/location is usually something that can or did happen/exist at a 'specific' point during (A), and does/did not take up the whole time-frame/space of (A). In this way, it can translate more literally as 'in the span of (A)'. This comes from the kanji 間(あいだ)'s common meaning as 'an interval'.

彼女(かのじょ)は冬休(ふゆやす)みの間(あいだ)に地元(じもと)へ帰(かえ)った。
She went back to her home town during winter break.
コンタクトと目(め)の間(あいだ)にゴミが入(はい)って、目(め)がとても痛(いた)い。
My eye is extremely sore because I got something between my contact and my eye.

Synonyms

Examples

今日(きょう)の午後(ごご)の2時(じ)から3時(じ)の間(あいだ)には、ここに来(こ)ないで。
Please don't come here between 2pm and 3pm today.
いつも、忙(いそが)しい間(あいだ)には掃除(そうじ)ができない。
I cannot always clean while busy.
私(わたし)が暇(ひま)な間(あいだ)に、電話(でんわ)をかけてください。
Please call me while I am free.
仕事(しごと)に行(い)くまでの間(あいだ)に掃除(そうじ)したかったけど無理(むり)だった。
During the time that I had before going to work I wanted to clean, but it was not possible.
私(わたし)が家(いえ)にいる間(あいだ)に、電話(でんわ)をかけてください。
Please call me while I am at home.
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- 間に
  LearnJapaneseDaily
- Difference between 間 and 間に
  JStackExchange
- Examples and formation
  Core 6000

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- Genki II 1st Edition
  Page 185
- Genki II 2nd Edition
  Page 216
- [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
  Page 69
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の間に – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (21 in total)

Daru
This grammar point always refers to space!

The first sentence is “in the valley in the space between the mountains”, whilst the second one is “between two tall people”, like you’ve correctly pointed out.

Could you give a bit more clarification on what is it that you feel like you’re missing? To me it seems like you have a good grasp.
razmic
For this,
長い航海の間に、僕は本物の船乗りになったんだ。
During a long voyage, I became a real sailor.
Is there a reason I could not use の序でに instead of の間に?
Forgive me if this has been answered somewhere.
willemvanhazendonk
then how about the following sentences

いつも、忙しい間には掃除できない
いつも、忙しいうちには掃除ができない

I assume the latter would be wrong/unnatural since it became a select time frame due to いつも
while i am busy i cant always clean / or always while busy i cannot clean.

then theres the following sentence:
赤ちゃんは食べている内に寝てしまった
赤ちゃんは食べている間に寝てしまった
would the first one imply that because the baby fell asleep he won’t be able to eat anymore? wheres the second sentence simply states that the baby fell asleep?