Word

Kana: あいだ Romaji: aida Level: N4

間

Meaning in English

interval, space, between, during

Stroke order

Animated kanji stroke order

間

Illustrated Dictionary

Translations in other languages:

Portuguese intervalo, espaço, entre, durante

Spanish intervalo, espacio, entre

Korean 사이, 동안

French intervalle, entre

Italian intervallo, fra

German Zwischenraum, während

Indonesian antara, selama

★ Vietnamese khoảng, giữa, trong lúc

Thai ระหว่าง, ช่วงเวลา

Sentence

Related sentences

N3 この漢字は形が似ているから、よく間違えられるらしい Kono kanji wa katachi ga nite iru kara, yoku machigaerareru rashii Apparently this kanji is often mistaken because the shape is similar N4 もし時間が残ったら、最後に発音の練習もしませんか Moshi jikan ga nokottara, saigo ni hatsuon no renshuu mo shimasen ka If time remains, shall we practice pronunciation at the end too N5 急いで書いたので、間違いがあるかもしれません Isoide kaita node, machigai ga aru kamo shiremasen Since I wrote it in a hurry, there may be mistakes N4 最近は忙しくて運動する時間がなかなか取れないんだ Saikin wa isogashikute undou suru jikan ga nakanaka torenai nda Recently I have been busy and cannot find time to exercise N2 時間があるうちに必要な資料を全部準備しておこう Jikan ga aru uchi ni hitsuyou na shiryou o zenbu junbi shite okou Let’s prepare all necessary materials while there is still time N4 この問題は思ったより複雑みたいだから少し時間がかかりそう Kono mondai wa omotta yori fukuzatsu mitai da kara sukoshi jikan ga kakarisou This problem seems more complex than expected so it may take time N3 時間が足りない場合は次回までに終わらせることになると思う Jikan ga tarinai baai wa jikai made ni owaraseru koto ni naru to omou If there is not enough time we will finish next time N4 急がないと約束の時間に間に合わないかもしれない Isoganai to yakusoku no jikan ni manianawanai kamo shirenai If I do not hurry I may not make it on time N4 時間がないから急いで準備するしかないね Jikan ga nai kara isoide junbi suru shika nai ne There is no time so we must prepare quickly

Dictionary

Word context

What it means

What does 間 (aida/ma) mean? It refers to the interval or space—either temporal or spatial—existing between two points, moments, people, or states; the core idea is the measurable or perceived 'between-ness' that separates or connects things, often felt as a span of time, a physical gap, or a relational distance.

Main meanings

1. As a conjunction use: expresses 'while' or 'during' when placed after verbs (temporal overlap).
2. As a bound element with on‑yomi kan: marks duration or span in compound words (time-length indicator).
3. Architectural/room sense ma: a specific indoor space or chamber and a unit used in traditional room measurements.
4. Aesthetic concept: the deliberate negative space or pause in music, art, and performance valued in Japanese aesthetics.
5. Figurative gap: emotional or social distance between people, or a margin/opportunity (room to act).

How to use it

Used across registers: in everyday speech as the noun/particle aida to mark 'between' or a period of time (casual to neutral), in formal/written language within compounds using on‑yomi kan to denote duration, and in specialized contexts (architecture, design, art criticism) as ma for room size or aesthetic negative space; placement in a sentence determines whether it functions as a noun, a temporal marker, a conjunction-like element, or part of a compound.

Variants and close terms

中 (naka) — inside, middle; overlaps with 'during' but emphasizes interiority.
隔たり (hedatari) — gap, distance; closer to emotional or physical separation.
空間 (kuukan) — space, spatial volume; tends toward physical/three‑dimensional space.
隙 (suki) — opening, loophole; small gap or opportunity.

Composition

間 is written with the components 門 (門 (mon) 'gate') enclosing 日 (日 (hi / nichi) 'sun/day'); the graphic of a sun between gate posts evokes a gap or opening through which light passes, which maps onto the meanings of interval, opening, or space.

Origin

The practical and cultural concept of 間 (aida/aida) appears early in Japanese history as an architectural and temporal notion—recorded in classical texts and evident in temple and court layouts—then formalized in measurements of living spaces and tatami-based room units, later becoming codified in aesthetics and language use through the Heian and Edo periods into modern Japan.

Word class

noun, particle, bound noun/suffix (名詞, 助詞, 接尾辞)