aida 間 あいだ

Noun meaning: in between, between, during, from... through, among, while.

The Japanese word "あいだ (aida)" is a versatile word that can mean various things depending on the context. In general, it is used to express the space between two things, the gap, the interval, or the time in between. Here are some common uses of the word "あいだ" with example sentences and English translations.

1. Followed by ni

間に立ってください。

aida ni tatte kudasai.

Please stand in between.

2. After noun +no, followed by

留守の間に田中さんが訪ねてきました。

rusu no aida ni tanaka san ga tazunete kimashita.

Mr. Tanaka came to see you during your absence.

3. After noun + to + noun + no, followed by ni

郵便局は駅と学校の間にあります。

yuubinkyoku wa eki to gakkou no aida ni arimasu.

The post office is between the station and the school.

4. After noun + kara + noun + made no

十日か十五日までの間休みます。

tooka kara juu go nichi made no aida yasumimasu.

I will take holidays from the 10th through the 15th.

5. After verb in the progressive tense, followed by ni

本を読んでいる間に眠ってしまった。

hon o yonde iru aida ni nemutte shimatta.

I fell asleep while I was reading a book.

6. After dictionary form of adjective, followed by ni

若い間にもっと勉強しなさい。

wakai aida ni motto benkyou shinasai.

Study more while you are young.

In conclusion, the Japanese word "あいだ" is a useful word that can express various things such as the space, gap, interval, or time in between. Understanding the context is key to knowing which meaning to use.