Verb ている / Noun の + 間に

[While / During (At Some Point)]

Connection: Verb ている form + 間に OR Noun + の間に

This pattern means "while ~" or "during ~," but emphasizes that something happens at some point during that period, not necessarily throughout the entire duration.

Key difference from 間:

• 間 = throughout the entire duration (continuous state during the whole time)
• 間に = at some point during that period (a completed action that occurs within the timeframe)

間 often pairs with continuous/state verbs in both clauses, while 間に often has a punctual/completed action in the main clause.

Examples:

寝ている間に、雨が降りました。(While I was sleeping, it rained. [at some point during sleep])

留守の間に、誰か来たみたいです。(While I was out, it seems someone came.)

会議をしている間に、地震がありました。(While we were having a meeting, there was an earthquake.)