GRAMMAR DETAIL

～間に

while; during

Indicates that a change or one-time event occurs at some point within an ongoing period.

Examples

私が料理をしている間に、友達が来た。

While I was cooking, my friend arrived.

電車を待っている間に、雨がやみました。

The rain stopped while I was waiting for the train.

昼休みの間に銀行へ行きました。

I went to the bank during my lunch break.

Structure: 間 takes に and is read あいだに, marking an event within a period.
Basic usage: 電車を待っている間に、雨がやみました。 places the end of the rain within the time spent waiting for the train.

An event within a period and a continuing activity
- 留守の間に荷物が届いた places a delivery at some point during an absence; 留守の間、犬を預かった describes looking after a dog over that period. に focuses on an event occurring within it.
Connections with verbs and nouns
- 待っている間に connects to a verb describing an ongoing state, while 昼休みの間に connects to a period noun. The noun takes の.