JLPT N4 grammar
〜間 (no に) — Meaning & Examples
"The whole time." Both actions span the same interval: 寝ている間、本を読んでいた = I read the entire time the baby slept.
〜間 and 〜間に — "While"
間（あいだ） means "the interval." The presence or absence of に changes everything.
〜間 (no に) = the whole time, continuously. Both actions last the same stretch.
赤ちゃんが寝ている間、本を読んでいました。
= While the baby was sleeping, I was reading. (the entire time)
日本にいる間、毎日日本語を話しました。
= While I was in Japan, I spoke Japanese every day.
〜間に (with に) = at some point during. A one-off event inside the interval.
赤ちゃんが寝ている間に、買い物に行きました。
= While the baby was asleep, I went shopping. (at some point in there)
留守の間に、荷物が届きました。
= While I was out, a parcel arrived.
The rule of thumb:
Continuous verb after it → no に (読んでいました, 話しました every day)
One-shot verb after it → に (行きました, 届きました)
Formation: 〜ている / plain form / noun + の + 間(に)
夏休みの間に、旅行しました。 = During summer holiday, I travelled.
Practise 〜間 (no に) in the free app
This point is part of the “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜間 (no に) mean?
"The whole time." Both actions span the same interval: 寝ている間、本を読んでいた = I read the entire time the baby slept.
Is 〜間 (no に) on the JLPT N4 test?
〜間 (no に) is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜間 (no に)?
Open the “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.