Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 6: 13/16

~ている間(あいだ)に
While, During the time that ~

Structure
Verb[ている]+ 間に
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When (A) ている is paired with 間(あいだ) (B), it expresses that ‘(B) is happening/happened within the timeframe of (A)’. These events do not need to be related in any specific way, but the (B) action must happen somewhere within the duration of (A). This construction translates naturally as ‘during the time that (A), (B)’.
  • ねえ、数(かぞ)えている間(あいだ)に話(はな)しかけるな。
    Hey, don't talk to me while I'm counting.
  • 荷物(にもつ)運(はこ)んでいる間(あいだ)に転(ころ)ん怪我(けが)
    I tripped and hurt myself when I was carrying luggage.
ている間(あいだ)に will often be used when the (B) action is somehow beyond the control of the speaker. However, this is not always the case.
  • 旅行(りょこう)に行(い)っている間(あいだ)に家(いえ)に泥棒(どろぼう)入(はい)っ
    While I was on a trip, a burglar came into my house.
Fun Fact
間(あいだ) literally means an ‘interval’, and therefore highlights the (A) event as being the ‘whole’ span of time, within which (B) happened/will happen at some point.
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妻(つま)寝(ね)ている間(あいだ)に私(わたし)好(す)きことができる
While my wife is sleeping, I can do what I like.
[during the time that...]
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サッカーている間(あいだ)に電話(でんわ)かかってきました
I got a phone call while playing soccer.
[during the time that...]
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勉強(べんきょう)ている間(あいだ)にお腹(なか)が空(す)いてきた
I became hungry while studying.
[during the time that...]
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Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 185
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 216
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 68