Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 9: 17/19

いつの間（ま）にか
suddenly, unnoticed, without noticing, too soon

Structure
いつのまにか + Phrase
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使用域 一般
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  • [There is a nuance of being surprised at the change. If there is no feeling of surprise, あっという間に can be used instead]
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しばらく入院（にゅういん）していて、久（ひさ）しぶりに外（そと）に出（で）ると、いつの間（ま）にか冬（ふゆ）になっていたと気（き）づいた。
After being hospitalized, I went outside for the first time in a while and found out that, without realizing it, winter had come.
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    • 「いつの間（ま）にか彼女（かのじょ）はネイティブみたいに話（はな）せるようになった。」
    "Without me realizing, her speaking has grown to that of a native."
    [Since いつのまにか is not used when change is gradual, the sentence suggests that speaker has not seen her for a long time, and during that time she has become proficient with language]
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    • あなたの子供（こども）から目（め）を離（はな）せばいつのまにか迷子（まいご）になるかもしれない。ご注意（ちゅうい）ください。
    If you take your eyes off of your child, they might get lost without you even noticing. Please, be careful.
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    [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
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