Japanese from zero · N4 Lesson 18
While, during, by
〜間 / 〜間に ・ 〜までに ・ 〜ながら (review) ・ 〜おきに ・ 〜頃
In this lesson, you will learn to say that something goes on the whole time or happens during a stretch of time, to give a deadline, to do two things at once, to say how often something repeats, and to say 'around' a time and 'back when'. After the lunch rush at café みどり, Lisa has a report due on Friday.
By the end you will be able to say
昼休みの 間、ずっと 込んで いました。It was crowded the whole lunch break.
店長が いない 間に、少し 休みました。I rested a little while the manager was out.
金曜日までに レポートを 出さなければ なりません。I have to hand in my report by Friday.
コーヒーは 一時間おきに 新しく 作ります。We make fresh coffee every hour.
子どもの 頃から、コーヒーが 好きです。I've liked coffee since I was a child.
The grammar in this lesson
- The whole time, at some point during: 〜間 / 〜間に — 間 says something goes on the whole time; 間に says it happens at some point inside that time.
- By (a deadline): 〜までに — までに gives a deadline: the action happens at some point before then.
- While doing (review): 〜ながら — ます-stem + ながら says one person does two things at the same time.
- Every (interval): 〜おきに — An amount of time + おきに says how often something repeats.
- Around, back when: 〜頃 (ごろ / ころ) — After a clock time, 頃 (ごろ) means 'around'; after の or a plain form, 頃 (ころ) means 'the time when'.