GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜ないうちに
Indicates taking action before an undesirable change occurs.
Examples
雨が強くならないうちに帰宅しましょう。
Let's go home before the rain gets heavier.
Words used
店が閉まらないうちに買い物を済ませよう。
Let's finish shopping before the store closes.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
うちにto a verb'sないform to act within the period before a change occurs. - Basic usage:
店が閉まらないうちに買い物を済ませよう。suggests finishing the shopping while the store is still open.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- The time span set by negation
閉まらないうちにmeans while it has not yet closed. The following action occurs before the closing, not afterward.
- Sequence and an available opportunity
閉まる前に買うpresents time order, while閉まらないうちに買うforegrounds acting while buying is still possible.うちにreadily suggests taking an opportunity before conditions change.