# Time: during

## 間

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (dictionary)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ 間</p>
</div>

{間|あいだ} means "while" or "during". Used to express something that is done for the whole period of time.

> [!info] Example
> 電車に{乗|の}っている==間==、ゲームをしてた。
> While I was on the train, I was playing a game.

Can also be used to talk about a distance between two physical places or the time between two things.

> [!info] Example
> １時から９じまでの==間==、{寝|ね}ます。
> I sleep between 1AM and 9AM.

## 間に

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (casual, non-past)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">い-Adj</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">な-Adj + な</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ 間に</p>
</div>

A first meaning is similar to {間|あいだ} (while), but with intentionality.

> [!info] Example
> 電車に{乗|の}っている==間に==、本を読みました。
> While I was on the train, I read a book.

A second meaning is a statement of something that happened during a time period, independently of your actions.
Contrary to 間, it doesn't include the whole time period. So 間に means that at a point during the time period, something happened.

> [!info] Example
> {夜|よる}の==間に==、{隣|となり}の木が{落|お}ちていた。
> During the night, the tree next door fell.

## ながら

<div class="usage">
<div class="">
	<p><span class="box">V-<strike>ます</strike></span></p>
</div>
	<p class="r"> + ながら + ...</p>
</div>

Means "while", "simultaneously". The difference with ついでに is that here the main action is the second one.

> [!info] Example
> {歩|ある}き==ながら=={電話|でん|わ}を見ています。
> While walking, I'm looking at my phone.

## ついでに

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (dictionary)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">V (た)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ ついでに</p>
</div>

Means "while", "at the same time". The difference with ながら is that here the main action is the first one.

> [!info] Example
> スーパーに行く==ついでに==、おにぎりを{買|か}ってくれませんか。
> While you're going to the supermarket, could you bring onigiri?

## 中

{中|ちゅう}・{中|じゅう} means different things depending on its pronunciation:
* ちゅう is used when pointing a specific time: "during", "at some point".
* じゅう is used for the entire time or area: "through", "within", "before it ends".

> [!info] Example
> {午後|ごご}==中==に{会議|かいぎ}がある。
> There is a meeting in the afternoon (ちゅう).
> 
> {今年|ことし}==中==にスウェーデンに行きたい。
> I want to go to Sweden before the end of this year (じゅう).

## うちに

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (casual)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">い-Adj</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">な-Adj + な</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ うちに</p>
</div>

Means "while". The nuance is that the time is optimal and should be taken advantage of.

> [!info] Example
> {晴|は}れる==うちに=={散歩|さんぽ}しましょう。
> Let's take a walk while the weather is nice.

## 途中で・途中に

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (dictionary)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ 途中で・途中に</p>
</div>

{途中|とちゅう}で・{途中|とちゅう}に means "in the middle of", "on the way".

> [!info] Example
> {帰|かえ}る==途中で=={自動販売機|じ|どう|はん|ばい|き}で{飲|のみ}み{物|もの}を{買|か}った。
> On the way home, I bought a drink from the vending machine.

## ているところ

Means "in the process/middle of doing".
See [[TeF (2) - manner of doing#ているところ]].

## 最中に

<div class="usage">
<div class="left">
	<p><span class="box">V (ている)</span></p>
	<p><span class="box">N + の</span></p>
</div>
	<p class="right">+ 最中に</p>
</div>

{最中|さいちゅう}に means "in the middle of". Happens during something else, interrupting or disturbing it.

> [!info] Example
> {運転|うんてん}していた==最中に=={鹿|しか}が{現|あらわ}れた。
> While I was driving, a deer appeared.

## しばらく

Means "for a while", "for now".

> [!info] Example
> ==しばらく==お{待|ま}ちください。
> Please wait for a moment.