…の間
… no aida
The English word 'during' can be expressed in Japanese as …の間 (… no aida). Wiktionary also lists …のうち (… no uchi).
Meaning: for all of a given time interval (prep)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …の間 | … no aida |
| …のうち | … no uchi |
The expression 間 (aida) is used to express 'during'.
What does it mean word for word?
The kanji 間 (aida) literally refers to the space or interval between two points, whether in time or space.
Which one should you use?
…の間 (no aida) emphasizes the entire duration of a period, whereas …のうち (no uchi) often implies 'within' a certain timeframe or 'among' a set of possibilities.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle は (wa) to the end of the phrase to form …の間は can be used to emphasize the specific period being discussed, often implying that something happened exclusively during that time.
How do you pronounce it?
… no aida
Did you know?
- The kanji 間 is composed of the radicals for 'sun' 日 and 'gate' 門, evoking the image of sunlight streaming through a doorway.
- The kanji 間 can be read as 'ma', which is a fundamental concept in Japanese aesthetics. It refers to the 'pregnant pause' or the meaningful silence in music and art, which is essentially a 'duration' of nothingness.
- Japanese has a specific word 合間 (aima) to describe the tiny, fragmented 'during' moments, like the short breaks between tasks in a busy day.
Examples in context
- 会議 の 間、私はメモを取ります。During the meeting, I take notes.
- 旅行 の 間中、彼女は写真を撮り続けた。During the trip, she kept taking photos the whole time.
- 運転中、携帯電話を使わないでください。Do not use your mobile phone while driving.
- 夏休み の間 、何をしましたか？What did you do during the summer vacation?
- 友達が来た 時 、私は料理をしていました。I was cooking when my friend came.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “during” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
