Structure
Verb[ている]+ うちに
[い]Adjective + うちに
[な]Adjective + な + うちに
Noun + の + うちに
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Standard
使用域
一般
Rare Kanji
裡に
About うちに
When うち, (sometimes seen using the kanji 内, or 裡) 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 ている form of verbs, the plain form of い-Adjectives, nouns followed by の, or な-Adjectives that are followed by な.
うちに may be paired with the ている form of verbs, the plain form of い-Adjectives, nouns followed by の, or な-Adjectives that are followed by な.
- 彼と毎日会っているうちに、だんだんと彼の事が好きになってきた。As I've been meeting with him everyday, I have gradually come to like him. (As I spend more time with him every day, I have grown to like him)
- 熱いうちに食べて!Eat it while it's hot!
- お爺ちゃんがまだ元気なうちに家族皆で旅行に行こう!Let's all go on a family trip while grandpa is still healthy!
- 今のうちに明日の準備をしておこう。Let's get ready for tomorrow while we have time. (Before it is too late)
- 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。I got sleepy while driving, so I took a break at a convenience store. (While in the process of driving)
- 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。I got sleepy while driving, so I took a break at a convenience store. (At one point while driving)
Fun Fact
The kanji 裡 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.Synonyms
ているあいだに
While, During the time that ~
Not studied yet
の間に
While, During, Between, Period
Not studied yet
とき
When, At the time of
Not studied yet
ないうちに
Before it becomes, Before ~ occurs, Without
Not studied yet
ながら
While ~ing, During, As
Not studied yet
ているところだ
In the process of doing ~ right now/at this moment
Not studied yet
最中に
In the middle of
Not studied yet
中
During, While, Throughout, In the process of
Not studied yet
ついでに
While you are at it, On the occasion
Not studied yet
Examples
授業を受けているうちに、宿題を完成させた。
I was able to finish my homework while taking a class.
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.
近いうちに連絡します。
I'll be in touch before long.
日本にいるうちに東京に行ってみたい。
While I am in Japan, I want to see Tokyo.
朝顔はみるみるうちに成長し、大きくなった。
The Morning Glory grew taller and got bigger within a short time.
朝顔 is Japanese for 'Morning Glory', a flower species.
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Online
うちに
LearnJapaneseDaily
Difference between 前に and うちに
JStackExchange
Offline
Tobira
Page 95
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 512
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 208
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うちに – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (14 in total)
Redglare
It’s giving me the orange funny face when I enter うちの, but also showing as an alternative correct answer after entering just うち. Not a fan of mixed signals. Is うちの acceptable in this case or not?
Images hidden for spaceDesopolis
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…-
Do: …(verb) before state/situation changes. The Phrase ~ expresses a state or situation, and … expresses an intentional action.
-
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.
- 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.
- 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...
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