Introduction
In Japanese, the expression -aida ni (間に) is used to describe when one event happens during the time of another ongoing event. This structure is helpful when you want to say that something occurred “while” something else was happening. In this post, we’ll explore how to use -aida ni, what it means, and some examples to help you understand this grammar point.
What It Means
The phrase A 間に B (A aida ni B) means that event B happened in the middle of event A. Event A is usually a longer activity or state, while event B is something that happens during that time. This is similar to saying “while” in English.
For example:
- お風呂に入っている間に電話がありました (Ofuro ni haitte iru aida ni denwa ga arimashita)
There was a phone call while I was taking a bath.
When to Use It
Use -aida ni (間に) when:
- You want to talk about an action that happened during the time of another action.
- Event A is ongoing, and event B occurs during this time.
Typically, event A is in the continuous form (ている) to show that it’s an ongoing action.
Examples
Here are some examples of -aida ni to help you understand how to use it in sentences.
- きのうの夜、寝ている間に地震がありました (Kinou no yoru, nete iru aida ni jishin ga arimashita)
There was an earthquake while I was asleep last night.- Event A: 寝ている (nete iru) – “while asleep”
- Event B: 地震がありました (jishin ga arimashita) – “there was an earthquake.”
- 両親が日本にいる間に京都に連れて行きたいです (Ryoushin ga Nihon ni iru aida ni Kyouto ni tsurete ikitai desu)
I want to take my parents to Kyoto while they are in Japan.- Event A: 日本にいる (Nihon ni iru) – “while in Japan”
- Event B: 京都に連れて行きたい (Kyouto ni tsurete ikitai) – “want to take to Kyoto.”
- ルームメイトが買い物をしている間、私は本を読んで待ちました (Ruumu meito ga kaimono o shite iru aida, watashi wa hon o yonde machimashita)
I waited, reading a book, while my roommate was shopping.- Event A: 買い物をしている (kaimono o shite iru) – “while shopping”
- Event B: 本を読んで待ちました (hon o yonde machimashita) – “waited, reading a book.”
Notes
- Using the Present Tense: Even if the main action happened in the past, the verb for event A stays in the present tense. For example, in お風呂に入っている間に電話がありました (Ofuro ni haitte iru aida ni denwa ga arimashita) – There was a phone call while I was taking a bath, the action “taking a bath” uses the present tense 入っている (haitte iru).
- -Aida vs. -Aida ni: Be aware that -aida ni (間に) focuses on a specific event (event B) happening during event A, while -aida (間) without ni implies that event A and event B both occur over a longer period.
- The verbs ある (aru – to exist for inanimate things) and いる (iru – to exist for animate things) do not have a -ているform. This is because they already indicate a state, so using いている or あっている would be incorrect. For example:
- Correct: 両親が日本にいる間に京都に連れて行きたいです。 (Ryoushin ga Nihon ni iru aida ni kyoto ni tsurete ikitai desu) – I want to take my parents to Kyoto while they are in Japan.
- Incorrect: 両親が日本にいている間に 京都に連れて行きたいです。((Ryoushin ga Nihon ni ite iru aida ni kyoto ni tsurete ikitai desu)
Conclusion
Using -aida ni is a great way to describe something that happens during another ongoing action. This grammar structure is practical for talking about two events and gives you a clearer way to explain when things happen at the same time. By avoiding common errors, like using いている instead of いる for certain verbs, you’ll use -aida ni more accurately.
Recommended Resources
For a deeper understanding of -aida ni, I recommend A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. This book explains the concept under the entry -aida (ni), offering clear explanations and examples to show how to express events happening “while” something else is ongoing. If you want to explore this grammar point further and gain more insights, this book is an excellent resource to help you master Japanese sentence structure.
