～うちに
uchi ni
While; before a situation changes; during which
Formation 接続
Dictionary-form, te-iru-form, or negative nai-form verb + うちに; i-adjective + うちに; na-adjective + な + うちに; noun + の + うちに.
Explanation 説明
One use means taking an opportunity while a state still holds. Another describes a natural change arising during an activity. Distinguish a deliberate following action from an unplanned change in interpreting the sentence.
Examples 例文
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若いうちに、いろいろな国を見てみたいです。
I want to see various countries while I am young.
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温かいうちに、この料理を食べてください。
Please eat this dish while it is still warm.
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日本で暮らしているうちに、納豆が好きになりました。
While living in Japan, I came to like natto.
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本を読んでいるうちに、眠くなりました。
I became sleepy while reading a book.
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休みのうちに、部屋を片付けておきます。
I will tidy my room while I am on holiday.
How related patterns differ 比較
いつのまにか highlights a change whose timing went unnoticed. つつある describes an ongoing change, and うちに describes a change during a period. つい concerns an unintentional action, while たとたんに emphasizes a particular instant.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～うちに | While; before a situation changes; during which | 若いうちに、いろいろな国を見てみたいです。 I want to see various countries while I am young. |
| 〜てはじめて | Only after doing something did one realize | 社会人になってはじめて学生の気楽さに気付いた。 Only after starting work did I realize how carefree student life was. |
| ～まま | While remaining in a state; unchanged | 窓を開けたまま出かけてしまいました。 I went out leaving the window open. |
| ～たものだ | Used to; would often do in the past | 子どものころ、よくこの川で泳いだものだ。 When I was a child, I used to swim in this river. |
| ～たて | Freshly done; newly completed | できたてのたこ焼きは、とっても熱いので、火傷をしないようにしてくださいね。 Freshly made takoyaki is very hot, so please be careful not to burn yourself. |
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