期間の間

N5

期間の間

kikan no aida (kan)

Duration particle 間 (kan)

N5

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Explanation

間 (かん) is used to say how long an action continues. It means “for” or “during” a period of time. You put 間 after a time amount to show duration. Key points: • Time + 間 = duration: 2時間, 3日間 • Use it with actions that last: 勉強します, 休みます, 仕事します • It answers “how long?” not “when?” • For minutes and hours, 間 is common and clear Example: “二時間勉強します” means “I study for two hours.” “三日間日本にいます” means “I will be in Japan for three days.” Be careful: に marks a point in time, while 間 shows duration. “七時に起きます” (at 7) is different from “七時間勉強します” (study for 7 hours). You can also use 間 with days or weeks to show a period: 一週間, 二週間, 三日間. It is a simple way to talk about how long you do something. Practice by making sentences about your day: 勉強, 仕事, 休み, 旅行, and add a duration with 間.

Structure

Pattern
Time duration + 間 + Verb
Time durationAmount of time
Examples: 二時間, 三日, 一週間
Shows duration
Examples:
VerbAction that lasts
Examples: 勉強します, います, 休みます

Examples

Example 1
二時間勉強します。
Ni-jikan benkyou shimasu.
I study for two hours.
Breakdown
二時間two hours
勉強しますstudy
Note: Duration of study
Example 2
三日間日本にいます。
Mikka-kan Nihon ni imasu.
I will be in Japan for three days.
Breakdown
三日間three days
日本Japan
location marker
いますbe (animate)
Note: Duration of stay
Example 3
一週間休みます。
Isshuukan yasumimasu.
I will rest for one week.
Breakdown
一週間one week
休みますrest
Note: Duration of rest
Example 4
五分間待ちます。
Gofun-kan machimasu.
I will wait for five minutes.
Breakdown
五分間five minutes
待ちますwait
Note: Duration of waiting

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