JLPT N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜あいだ” and “〜あいだに”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜あいだ” and “〜あいだに”
2. AあいだB
3. AあいだにB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments

Q: What is the difference between “〜あいだ” and “〜あいだに”?

A: These two expressions change in meaning depending on whether “に” is used or not.

“AあいだB” means that B continues during the time of A. On the other hand, “AあいだにB” means that B is done before the time of A ends, or that B happens during the time of A.

Both expressions use “あいだ,” but the main difference is whether the sentence after it describes something that continues, or something that happens during that period.

Let’s look at them in more detail.

AあいだB (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Do B the whole time during A
B continues during the period of A

[Rules]　　
[V] Verb plain form / ている form ＋あいだ
[A] い adjective＋あいだ
[Na] な adjective＋あいだ
[N] Noun＋の＋あいだ

[Words often used with this grammar]
Verbs: 待まつ(to wait)/待まっている(waiting), 食たべる(to eat)/食たべている(eating), 乗のる(to ride)/乗のっている(riding), いる(to be)
Nouns: 休やすみ(vacation), 試験しけん(exam), 学生がくせい(student), 病気びょうき(illness), 旅行りょこう(travel), 仕事しごと(work)

[Examples]
友達ともだちを待まっているあいだ、ずっとスマホでゲームをしていました。
While I was waiting for my friend, I was playing games on my smartphone the whole time.

若わかいあいだは何なんでもやってみるといいですよ。
While you are young, you should try doing anything.

桜さくらがさいているあいだ、毎日まいにちここを散歩さんぽします。
While the cherry blossoms are in bloom, I walk here every day.

母ははは、わたしが病気びょうきのあいだ、ずっと仕事しごとを休やすんでいました。
While I was sick, my mother didn’t go to work at all.

“AあいだB” is used with words that express a period of time.
The sentence that comes after it often describes an action or state that continues.

[Examples]
日本にほん語ご学校がっこうにいるあいだは、日本にほん語ごだけを使つかいます。
While I am at the Japanese language school, I only use Japanese.
⇒ 日本にほん語ご学校がっこうにいるときはずっと日本にほん語ごだけ使つかいます。

夏休なつやすみのあいだ、図書としょ館かんに通かよっていました。
During the summer vacation, I regularly went to the library.
⇒ 夏休なつやすみの期間きかん中ちゅう、何なん度ども図書としょ館かんに行いっていました。
※「通かよっていました」は、1回かいだけではなく、何なん度ども行いったことを表あらわします。

AあいだにB (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Do B before the time of A ends
B happens during the period of A

[Rules]　　
[V] Verb plain form / ている form ＋あいだに
[A] い adjective＋あいだに
[Na] な adjective＋あいだに
[N] Noun＋の＋あいだに

[Words often used with this grammar]
Verbs：寝ねる(to sleep)/寝ねている(sleeping), 住すむ(to live)/住すんでいる(living), いる(to be)
Nouns：休やすみ(vacation), 独身どくしん(single), 学生がくせい(student)

[Examples]
留学りゅうがくしているあいだに、友達ともだちをたくさん作つくりました。
While studying abroad, I made a lot of friends.

わたしがいないあいだに、だれか来きたようです。
It seems someone came while I was away.

夏休なつやすみのあいだに、あのカフェへかき氷ごおりを食たべに行いこう！
While we are on summer vacation, let’s go to that cafe for shaved ice.

休やすみのあいだに、部屋へやを片付かたづけよう。
Let’s clean the room during the break.

学生がくせいのあいだにN3に受うかりたいです。
I want to pass the N3 while I am a student.

“AあいだにB” is used with words that express a period of time.
However, the sentence that comes after it describes something that is done or something that happens during that period.

[Examples]
留学りゅうがくしているあいだに、友達ともだちをたくさん作つくりました。
While studying abroad, I made a lot of friends.
⇒ I made a lot of friends during the period of studying abroad.

独身どくしんのあいだに色々いろいろな国くにを旅行りょこうするつもりです。
I plan to travel to various countries while I am single.
⇒ I plan to travel to various countries before I get married.

Let’s Compare

Let’s compare the following two sentences.

[Examples]
若わかいあいだは、何なんでもやってみるといいですよ。　　　
While you are young, you should try everything.

若わかいあいだに、 何なんでもやってみるといいですよ。
You should try many things while you are still young.

These two sentences have similar meanings.
However, there is a slight difference in nuance.
“若わかいあいだは” focuses on the overall habit, way of thinking, or attitude during the period of being young.
In other words, it means that while you are young, it is important to have the attitude of trying many different things.
“若わかいあいだに” focuses on actions that should be done before the period of being young ends.
In other words, it means that you should gain various experiences before the period of being young is over.

When you are not sure whether to use “〜あいだ” or “〜あいだに,” look at the sentence that comes after it.
If the sentence after it describes an action or state that continues throughout that time, use “〜あいだ.”

[Examples]
× お風呂ふろに入はいっているあいだに、音楽おんがくを聞きいていました。
◯ お風呂ふろに入はいっているあいだ、音楽おんがくを聞きいていました。

While I was taking a bath, I was listening to music.

“音楽おんがくを聞きいていました” is an action that continued while I was taking a bath.
Therefore, “あいだ” sounds natural.
If the sentence after it describes something that happened once during that time, or an action done before that time ended, use “〜あいだに.”

[Examples]
× お風呂ふろに入はいっているあいだ、電話でんわがあったようです。
◯ お風呂ふろに入はいっているあいだに、電話でんわがあったようです。

It seems there was a phone call while I was taking a bath.

“電話でんわがあった” did not continue throughout the time I was taking a bath.
It was an event that happened once during that time.
Therefore, “あいだに” sounds natural.

In short, it is easier to think of “あいだ” as being used for things that continued, and “あいだに” as being used for things that happened or were done during that time.

Summary

[ＡあいだＢ]

• It connects to words that express a certain length of time.
• The sentence that comes after it uses words that express a continuing action or state.
• It describes something that is done continuously during that time, or a state that continues during that time.

[ＡあいだにＢ]

• It connects to words that express a certain length of time.
• The sentence that comes after it uses words that express something done or something that happened during that time.
• It describes an action done before that time ends, or an event that happened during that time.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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