うちに

expression

while; during; before (a state changes)

1. while; during (a state continues)

Attached to a verb, adjective, or noun + の, marks the period while a condition holds. The action in the main clause should be completed before that condition changes.

若(わか)いうちに勉強(べんきょう)しよう。

Let's study while we're young.

休(やす)みのうちに本(ほん)を読(よ)んだ。

I read a book during the vacation.

話(はな)しているうちに、答(こた)えが見(み)つかった。

While we were talking, I found the answer.

2. before (it becomes too late); while still

With a negative verb (〜ないうちに), means 'before (something happens).' Implies the speaker should act before the state changes.

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)らないうちに帰(かえ)ろう。

Let's go home before it starts raining.

忘(わす)れないうちにメモしておく。

I'll jot it down before I forget.

暗(くら)くならないうちに家(いえ)に着(つ)きたい。

I want to get home before it gets dark.

Combination of 内(うち) (inside, interval) + に. Treated as a fixed grammatical pattern.

Attachment

Verb (plain present or ている): 話(はな)しているうちに
Negative verb: 降(ふ)らないうちに
I-adjective: 若(わか)いうちに
Na-adjective + な: 元気(げんき)なうちに
Noun + の: 休(やす)みのうちに

Similar words

間(あいだ)に: while — neutral about whether the state changes; うちに implies acting before it does
〜前(まえ)に: before — focuses on order of events; ないうちに focuses on the state still being in effect

Related Words

Compare: 間(あいだ) (while)

general

Added 2026.5.30 13:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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