GRAMMAR DETAIL
～間
Follows an ongoing state or period and indicates that the following situation continues throughout that entire period.
Examples
旅行の間、毎日写真を送ってくれた。
They sent me photographs every day during the trip.
Words used
夏休みの間、祖母の家に滞在しました。
I stayed at my grandmother's house throughout summer vacation.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: A period noun takes
の間, and an ongoing verb can takeている間;間is readあいだ. - Basic usage:
夏休みの間、祖母の家に滞在しました。describes a stay extending over summer vacation.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A whole period and an event within it
留守の間、犬を預かるdescribes looking after the dog over the absence, while留守の間に荷物が届くdescribes a delivery within that period. The presence ofにchanges the focus.
- Repeated actions across a period
旅行の間、毎日写真を送ってくれた。describes sending photographs each day during the trip. It need not mean one uninterrupted action.