How to use ~ているあいだに (~teiru aida ni): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide

aidani

刑事けいじがタバコを吸すっているあいだに、容疑ようぎ者しゃは窓まどから逃にげた。
While the detective was smokin’ a cigarette, the suspect escaped out the window.

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Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.

Today we’re talkin’ about ~ているあいだに (te iru aida ni).

This ain’t just “while.” This is about opportunity. This is the grammar you use when you make a move while someone ain’t lookin’.

Think of it like this: ~ている (te iru) is the main action, the thing that’s goin’ on for a while. The boss is countin’ his money, the cops are walkin’ the beat, whatever. The ~あいだに (aida ni) is the window. It’s the one specific thing that happens during that time. It’s when you sneak in, grab the loot, and dip. It’s not “while A, also B.” It’s “while A was happening, B went down.”

Think of ~ている (te iru) as the big guard dog, “Cerberus,” walkin’ back and forth, patrolling the yard. He’s just doin’ his thing. That’s the continuous action.

~あいだに (aida ni) is the one second the dog turns his back to bark at a car. BOOM. That’s your window. That’s the ni. In that one moment—while he’s still on patrol—you hop the fence.

You ain’t hoppin’ the fence the whole time he’s on patrol (that would be ~あいだ without the に). You did it at one specific point during his patrol.


Grammar Conjugation Guide.

Read the table below then use it to conjugate some words you know.

Here’s the breakdown. It’s easy money.

Verb TypeBase Form (Dictionary)て-form (te-form) + いるFull Grammar PatternEnglish
u-Verb待まつ待まっている待まっているあいだにWhile waiting…
ru-Verb食たべる食たべている食たべているあいだにWhile eating…
IrregularするしているしているあいだにWhile doing…

Aight, so look. All you gotta do is take your verb and flip it to the て-form (te-form). Then you just add いる (iru). This makes the “continuous state”—like “is doing,” “is watching,” “is sleeping.”

After you got that part (like 待まっている), you just smack あいだに (aida ni) on the end.

So, 逃にげる -> 逃にげて -> 逃にげている -> 逃にげているあいだに “While (someone) is escaping…”


Example sentences with audio.

Listen to and repeat the sentences below.

ボスが寝ねているあいだに、金庫きんこから金かねを盗ぬすんだ。
While the boss was sleepin’, I jacked the cash from the safe.

ボディーガードがよそ見みをしているあいだに、暗殺あんさつ者しゃがナイフを投なげた。
While the bodyguard was lookin’ away, the assassin threw the knife.

妻つまが料理りょうりをしているあいだに、彼かれは愛人あいじんに電話でんわした。
While his wife was cookin’, he called his mistress.

彼かれがよそ見みをしているあいだに、カバンをすり替かえた。
While he was lookin’ the other way, I switched the bags.

二ふ人たりが喧嘩けんかしているあいだに、スリが財布さいふを盗ぬすんだ。
While those two were runnin’ a fade, a pickpocket snatched the wallet.

ボスがシャワーを浴あびているあいだに、部屋へやにマイクを仕掛しかけた。
While the boss was in the shower, I planted a bug in the room.

部下ぶかが金かねを数かぞえているあいだに、裏切うらぎり者ものが彼かれを撃うった。 While the underling was countin’ the money, the traitor shot him.

警察けいさつから逃にげているあいだに、大事だいじな証拠しょうこを落おとしてしまった。
While I was runnin’ from the cops, I dropped the important evidence.

幹部かんぶが会議かいぎをしているあいだに、スパイがデータをコピーした。
While the execs were in a meeting, the spy copied the data.

銀行ぎんこう員いんが昼ひるご飯はんを食たべているあいだに、強盗ごうとうが入はいった。
While the bank teller was eating lunch, the robbers broke in.


That’s the lesson. Don’t get caught slippin’. Peace.

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