Japanese Conversation · Level 10
90 words
Japanese word
間
Pronunciation
Romajiaida
Meaning
- nounbetween, space
Example
二人の間に猫がいます。futa ri no aida ni neko ga i ma su
There is a cat between the two people.
More examples
机といすの間にかばんがあります。tsukue to i su no aida ni ka ba n ga a ri ma su
There is a bag in the space between the desk and the chair.
二つの建物の間を人が通ります。futa tsu no tate mono no aida o hito ga tō ri ma su
People pass between two buildings.
Core concept
It marks the space or stretch of time that separates two things, so it can express both between and during.
Common phrases
二人の間にfuta ri no aida ni
between two people
二人の間でfuta ri no aida de
between two people
Similar words
間隔kankaku: A measured distance or period separating two things or events.
隙間sukima: A narrow open space between two objects or parts.
合間aima: A short period between activities or events.
Definition in Japanese
二つのものの間にある空間や時間、またはその隔たり。futa tsu no mo no no aida ni a ru kū kan ya ji kan ma ta wa so no heda ta ri
Word origin
The native word あいだ (aida) has no securely established smaller morphemes; the kanji 間 (kan, "interval") represents its meaning rather than supplying its pronunciation.
Usage tips
- The phrase 間もなく (mamonaku) means "soon" and uses 間 (ma) for a short interval, showing how the idea of a space can extend to a period of time.
Other meanings
- duringnoun
- gapnoun
- intervalnoun