内(うち)にWhile, During

Structure

Verb［ている］+ うちに
［い］Adjective + うちに
［な］Adjective + な + うちに
Noun + の + うちに

Details

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Standard
Rare Kanji
裡に

About うちに

When うち, (sometimes seen using the kanji 内(うち), or 裡(うち)) is paired with the case marking particle に, it expresses a period/space 'within' which something else will/should happen/exist. It quite often (but not always) carries the nuance of (A) being the 'best', or the 'optimal' time/space within which (B) could occur/exist. In English, うちに can simply be translated as 'while', or 'during'.

うちに may be paired with the dictionary or ている form of verbs, the plain form of い-Adjectives, nouns followed by の, or な-Adjectives that are followed by な.

Unlike 間(あいだ)に, うちに expresses something that can happen/exist anywhere 'within' the span of (A), and is therefore non-specific as to where (B) is located.

Fun Fact

The kanji 裡(うち) refers literally to the inner walls/lining of something, and anything that is enclosed within that space. This can be thought of as where the 'non-specificity' of うち comes from, in regard to where within that space something is.

Examples

--:--

近(ちか)い内(うち)に連絡(れんらく)します。

I'll be in touch before long.

鉄(てつ)は熱(あつ)い内(うち)に打(う)て。

Strike while the iron is hot.

授業(じゅぎょう)を受(う)けている内(うち)に、宿題(しゅくだい)を完成(かんせい)させた。

I was able to finish my homework while taking a class.

赤(あか)ちゃんは食(た)べている内(うち)に寝(ね)てしまった。

The baby fell asleep while eating.

日本(にほん)にいる内(うち)に東京(とうきょう)に行(い)ってみたい。

While I am in Japan, I want to see Tokyo.

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Online
- Difference between 前に and うちに
  JStackExchange

Offline
- [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
  Page 208
- [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
  Page 512
- Tobira
  Page 95
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うちに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (15 in total)

Desopolis
I’m using the grammar book “New Kanzen Master N3” at a Tokyo language school and it has some different nuance and I’m not seeing it matched anywhere. Not sure how much it matters but I figured I’d add it.

In the book, has two meanings for うちに
~うちに…
1. Do: …(verb) before state/situation changes. The Phrase ~ expresses a state or situation, and … expresses an intentional action.
2. While: ~ (continuous process or action) is happening, … (a change) also happens. Refers to a change that happens without to volition of the speaker during a certain period.
for 1, it seems the time isn’t just the best, but a possible limit. Like “While in Japan” implies that time is limited (before that state changes)

for 2, The second action is a change and one out of the persons control: 赤ちゃんは食べているうちに寝てしまった。
The baby fell asleep while eating.

with the action of falling asleep being out of the persons control…
Glaciem52
This is the ChatGPT It would be nice if someone can confirm if this is right.
1. 運転している間に眠くなったので、コンビニで休憩をした。
- Translation: “While (I) was driving, I became sleepy, so I took a break at the convenience store.”
- Usage of 間に (aida ni): This sentence uses “間に” to emphasize the temporal relationship between the action of driving and the feeling of becoming sleepy. It suggests that the sleepiness occurred during the ongoing action of driving.
1. 運転しているうちに眠くなったので、コンビニで休憩をした。
- Translation: “While (I) was in the process of driving, I became sleepy, so I took a break at the convenience store.”
- Usage of うちに (uchi ni): This sentence uses “うちに” to emphasize the completion of the action (運転している) before the sleepiness sets in. It implies a sense of urgency or the desire to take a break before the sleepi...
bilowik
I keep re-reading the explanations and going over examples here and in the 間に grammar point and I still cannot discern the difference between the two. Google has failed me as well, and ChatGPT doesn’t even seem to know since it fairly consistently explains them each using what are essentially synonymous descriptions in English as well.