間(あいだ)

あいだ

noun

between, interval

1. between (space)

The space or gap between two things or people.

私(わたし)とあなたの間(あいだ)。

Between you and me.

駅(えき)と学校(がっこう)の間(あいだ)に公園(こうえん)がある。

There's a park between the station and the school.

机(つくえ)と壁(かべ)の間(あいだ)に本(ほん)が落(お)ちていた。

A book had fallen between the desk and the wall.

木(き)と木(き)の間(あいだ)から海(うみ)が見(み)えます。

You can see the ocean through the gap between the trees.

本棚(ほんだな)と壁(かべ)の間(あいだ)に猫(ねこ)が隠(かく)れていたので、見(み)つけるのに時間(じかん)がかかりました。

The cat was hiding between the bookshelf and the wall, so it took time to find it.

2. during, while (time)

A period of time during which something happens.

授業(じゅぎょう)の間(あいだ)、静(しず)かにしてください。

Please be quiet during class.

寝(ね)ている間(あいだ)に雨(あめ)が降(ふ)った。

It rained while I was sleeping.

夏休(なつやす)みの間(あいだ)、毎日(まいにち)泳(およ)ぎました。

I swam every day during summer vacation.

電車(でんしゃ)に乗(の)っている間(あいだ)、本(ほん)を読(よ)んでいました。

I was reading a book while riding the train.

会議(かいぎ)の間(あいだ)は携帯(けいたい)の電源(でんげん)をお切(き)りください。ご協力(きょうりょく)よろしくお願(ねが)いします。

Please turn off your mobile phone during the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation.

3. relationship between

The relationship or connection between parties.

二人(ふたり)の間(あいだ)に何(なに)かあったの？

Did something happen between you two?

友達(ともだち)との間(あいだ)が悪(わる)くなった。

Things got bad between me and my friend.

親子(おやこ)の間(あいだ)には信頼(しんらい)が大切(たいせつ)です。

Trust is important between parents and children.

国(くに)と国(くに)の間(あいだ)で話(はな)し合(あ)いが始(はじ)まった。

Discussions have begun between the countries.

先生(せんせい)と学生(がくせい)の間(あいだ)では敬語(けいご)を使(つか)うのが普通(ふつう)ですが、最近(さいきん)は変(か)わってきています。

It's normal to use polite language between teachers and students, but this has been changing recently.

間(あいだ) expresses space between things, duration of time, or relationships between people.

Common patterns

AとBの間(あいだ): between A and B (space)
[noun]の間(あいだ): during [noun] (time)
[verb-ている]間(あいだ): while [verb-ing]
二人(ふたり)の間(あいだ): between the two (relationship)

Pronunciation

間(あいだ): between, during, while
間(かん): interval, used in compounds (時間(じかん), 空間(くうかん))
間(ま): pause, timing, room

Similar words

間(あいだ) without に means throughout the whole period: 夏休(なつやす)みの間(あいだ)、ずっと働(はたら)いた (I worked all through the summer break).
間(あいだ)に means at some point within it: 夏休(なつやす)みの間(あいだ)に宿題(しゅくだい)を終(お)える (finish the homework during the break).
内(うち)に adds that the chance will pass: 熱(あつ)いうちに食(た)べて (eat it while it's hot).

Related Words

Compare: 最中(さいちゅう) (right in the middle of (emphasizes peak))

Compare: うちに (while)

Compare: 内(うち) (adds that the chance will pass)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:56 · Revised 2026.10.8 15:23

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