During / Throughout: 〜あいだ / 〜あいだに

Learn the difference between ongoing duration and one-time action within an interval using 〜あいだ and 〜あいだに.

Distinguish 〜あいだ from 〜あいだに in time expressions.Use 〜あいだ for continuing situations and 〜あいだに for events that occur within the interval.Read timelines more accurately in narratives and explanations.

Guided study

Core contrast

〜あいだ expresses what continues throughout a period. 〜あいだに expresses something that happens at some point within that period. This difference is small in form but very important for reading event order.

夏休みのあいだ、毎日日本語を読んだ。

During summer vacation, I read Japanese every day.

The reading continued throughout the whole vacation period.

私がシャワーを浴びているあいだに、荷物が届いた。

While I was taking a shower, a package arrived.

The delivery happened one time inside the shower interval.

Practice guides for this lesson

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During / Throughout: 〜あいだ / 〜あいだに

Core contrast

Practice guides for this lesson

N3 Japanese grammar lessons

Japanese grammar practice

Japanese grammar lessons