while, during

間 marks a time span: with に (間に), the main action happens at some point within that span; without に (間), the action continues for the whole span. It follows the ている form, nouns plus の, or plain forms. Compare ながら, which requires the same subject.

Examples

• 留守るすの間あいだに、誰だれか来きたようです。

  Rusu no aida ni, dareka kita you desu.

  It seems someone came while I was out.

• 夏休なつやすみの間あいだに、本ほんを十じゅっ冊さつ読よみました。

  Natsuyasumi no aida ni, hon o jussatsu yomimashita.

  I read ten books during the summer vacation.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 留守 being away from home
• 間 between; interval
• 誰 who
• 来る to come
• 夏休み summer vacation
• 本 book

Related patterns · Connectors

• 〜のに although, even though, despite
• 〜ので because, since (objective reason)
• 〜ながら while doing (two actions at once)
• 〜し and what is more (listing reasons)
• 〜ても even if, even though