While II: うち
As with so many nouns which denote a point/domain of space, the noun うち, whose primary meaning is to mean “interior,” may function as a temporal noun for the function of “while” but with a catch: ～うち specifically denotes that before the timeline of V1 runs out of time, V2 is undertaken, and not only that, by V2 being undertaken, V1‘s timeline will have (likely) ended.
The Spatial 内（うち）
The primary meaning of うち in a spatial sense is indicating “within” a certain domain. When that domain is compartmented off, it may translate as “interior/inside,” and when extrapolated onto groups of people or situations, it may also translate as “among” or “amidst.”
Orthography Note: Unlike the temporal meaning of ～うち which is typically written in kana, the spatial meanings are normally represented by the use of its kanji spelled 内.
Though 内 is rather synonymous with 中 (inside/middle) when it means “interior,” 内 tends to be used more often in metaphoric contexts in modern usage. When indicating “inward,” we find 内 interchangeable with 内側, but 中 would have to be interpreted as towards “the center” in a sense of directionality.
1. あのドアは内に向かって開きます。
That door opens inward.
2. 内側から鍵がかかってしまった。
It was locked from the inside.
3. 内に秘めた力を解き放て！
Release the power hidden within!
4. 賞味期限って、 暗黙のうち1に未開封、が条件ですか？
Is (the thing) being “unopened” an unspoken condition to a use-by date?
5. 百人残ったうちの一人が犯人だ。
One of these remaining 100 people is the criminal.
6. 五つのうちから一つ選んでください。
Please choose one from these five.
7. これも仕事のうちですよ。
This is also a part of the job.
8. 運も実力のうち。
Luck is also a part of your skills.
9. 近いうちに連絡します。
I’ll contact you before long.
10. 町の大半が一瞬のうちに消えた。
The majority of the town disappeared in an instant.
内 may also indicate the place in which one belongs, and this can be interpreted in various ways, including “one’s home/household,” “one’s inner circle (including “team,” “club,” “workplace,” etc.,” “one’s family,” or even, “one’s spouse.” For the meanings of “one’s home/household/spouse,” it may be alternatively written in kanji as 家.
11. うちと鹿島だけ日曜試合なんだけど、なんでだろう？
Only our (team) and Kashima are on Sunday matches, but why, though?
12. うちの会社にはフランス人のスタッフがいます。
There is a French staff member in the company I work at.
13. 家じゅうで山へ行くんです。
(We)’re going to the mountains as a family.
14. 家に相談します。
I’ll discuss (it) with my spouse.
These meanings have even led うち to develop into a first person pronoun in casual, familial speech. Although associated more so with female speakers in some regions, it has largely become gender neutral in recent decades.
15. ウチと付き合ってくれない？
Would you go out with me?
The Temporal ～うち
The spatial meanings of うち help build an image of a circle, and the matter being discussed is within that circle. When used temporarily, we see that the main clause must always be performed within the “circle” a.k.a time frame that うち creates.
The closest equivalent to the temporal ～うち is ～間, and while both translate as “while” and appear with the same variety of predicates – verbal, adjectival, noun – the specific difference in meaning of the former results in unique differences in how particles, tense, and aspect function with it.
Just like in our previous discussion on ～間に, the dependent clause which precedes ～うちに will be referenced as V1. Also, “V” may be substituted with other predicates provided the time frame implied is still logical. The main clause which follows ～うちに will be denoted as V2, which is also not restricted to verbs alone. Because the use of the negative in V1 has a major impact on how ～うちに is interpreted, that will be denoted as V1neg.
Both ～うちに and ～間に involve V2 realizing within the time frame of V1. While V2 occurs within the time frame of V1 with ～間に and can last however long in that interval, V2 must be completed before V1‘s time frame expires with ～うちに. It is implied that by V2 not realizing in that deadline set by V1 that a negative consequence is to be expected.
16. 若い（うちに 〇・間に X｝英語を勉強した方がいいよ。
It’s best that you study English while you’re young.
The consequence of not learning English while one is young is that doing so will be far harder. It is also worth noting that learning English before “being young” is illogical, and that logic is extended to the pattern itself. Meaning, V1 and V2 cannot be flipped and still be valid. Relating this back to the spatial meaning of うち, V2 is within the circle, not the circle itself.
One must also not misconstrue the fact that 若い間に itself is a possible phrase, but it is ungrammatical in Ex. 16 due to the time limit set by the speaker for V2 to occur. When such a time limit set on V2 is so intrinsic to achieving a favorable outcome, ～うちに cannot be replaced by ～間に.
17. スープがまだ熱い｛うちに 〇・間に X｝飲むのが好きです。
I like eating my soup while it’s still hot.
18. 警察が来ないうちに、逃げるから、心配ないよ。(Casual)
I’ll run away before the police come, so no worries.
In Ex. 18, the main point is escaping while V1neg is still valid, which is synonymous with saying before V1pos realizes. As the principle of V2 being completed in the time limit set by V1 still applies when it is rendered in the negative as V1neg, and so long as the time frame is sufficient yet critical to completing V2, the stakes implied prevent ～ない間に from being possible, though as we saw in the previous lesson, the structure is valid when outcome is not such a contingency.
19. 妻が帰ってこない｛うちに・間に｝、部屋を片づけました。
I cleaned up the room in the time my wife wasn’t home yet.
Using ～うちに in Ex. 19 would suggest not cleaning the room before your wife comes home would result in punishment, whereas by using ～ない間に, the agent just so happened to complete V2 while V1 was the case.
The dynamic of a time limit that has to be met is fueled by there being a willful agent committing V2. When this volition is taken out of the equation entirely, interchangeability between ～うちに and ～間に is heightened.
20. 知らない｛間に・うちに｝、眠ってしまっていた。
I had been asleep [without even knowing it/before I knew it].
With ～間, we learned that the timelines of V1 and V2 are on parallel paths, but because ～うちに is always visualized as a “circle” within the time domain of V1, に is almost never dropped, as it is に which anchors the time frame of V1 as a point of reference. Another difference is that while 間 may be interpreted as “interval” in a broader sense—capable of being paired with various other case particles which indicate direction like から (from) and まで (to)—this is not possible with ～うちに.
Using ～うちに with まで is ungrammatical, largely because it would be redundant but also contradictory to the time limit set by まで. The purpose of まで would be to indicate that the time frame of V2 must be contained within the time limit set for V1, and the use of ～間（に・には・は）can be viewed as highlighting that time frame.
21. 家に帰るまでの｛間（に）〇・うちに X｝、雨が降ってきてしまった。
I was caught in the rain during the time it took to get home.
～うちに w/ Instantaneous Verbs
When ～うちに is paired with an instantaneous verb, the time limit enforced on V1 results in the “before” interpretation that is exhibited when paired with V1neg, but with a slight twist, the action – though syntactically treated as being “instantaneous” – is reinterpreted as still following on a timeline of its own. Here, we find considerable interchangeability between ～うちに and ～間に with their difference in nuance maintained.
22. 自宅へ帰る｛間に・うちに｝、手を見て電車に傘を忘れてきたのに気づいた。
[While going home/before getting home], I (happened to) look at my hand and noticed that I had gotten so far having left my umbrella in the train.
Restrictions on Non-Past
Though the non-past tense is seen out of necessity with instantaneous verbs, with non-instantaneous verbs, ～うちに is generally paired with the progressive tense (～ている). The reasoning for why the non-past is not used with ～うちに is: if even after the realization/completion of V2 there is the potential that V1 continues for some time, ～間に may be used because V2 just happens to occur within V1‘s not so long timeline; however, ～うちに cannot be used because it implies that V1 will have stopped upon V2 realizing, but the feasibility of having met such a deadline with consequences on the line is not felt via the use of the non-past tense. By using the progressive tense with V1, we know that it must still be ongoing while V2 gets the chance to be completed.
23a. 彼氏が晩ご飯の支度をする間に、宿題を全部済ませてしまった。 〇
23b. 彼氏が晩ご飯の支度をするうちに、宿題を全部済ませてしまった。X
I finished all of my homework while my boyfriend prepared dinner.
Conversely, if there is the potential that V1 stops due to V2 realizing (coming to fruition), ～うちに becomes grammatical with the non-past tense. Meanwhile, ～間に becomes ungrammatical due to having a broader time frame conflicting with the notion of abruptly stopping due to V2 realizing. Remember that ～間に captures the beginning and end of V1.
Consider the notion of drinking shots over the course of an evening. In Ex. 24, V1 marked by ～うちに necessitates the consequence stated in V2, and we know from the use of ～ていた in V2 that this is a recurring scenario. Meaning, V1 is very much a snapshot of time, but that is just enough time to get red in the face from a shot. The logical association between the act and the consequence allows for the use of the non-past tense, and the intermittent nature of V1 helps constitute a timeline similar to what we see formed with instantaneous verbs.
24. 酒をごくごくと飲む｛うちに 〇・間に X｝、また顔が真っ赤になっていた。
My face had gotten completely red again as I was gulping down the alcohol.
Now, let’s posit that V2 realizes but there is a chance that V1 continues or may come to a halt, the non-past may be seen with ～うちに, and interchangeability between it and ～間に is heightened. By using ～間に, it is implied that V1 did not just halt because of V2 realizing. Even if V1 is halted for now, it may potentially be resumed down the road. By using ～うちに, it would sound as though V1 were halted because of the realization of V2.
The use of non-verbal predicates are the most likely realization of this because of how the states (as opposed to actions) that they describe are impervious to change and are not necessarily maintained by an agent (doer), but when V2 is put into the equation, that situation/state might change.
25. 暖かい｛うちに・間に｝、ちょっと散歩に出かけます。
I’ll go out for a little walk while it’s warm.
26. その新聞は、夜の｛うちに・間に｝、配られてくるんですね。
That’s because the newspaper is delivered during the night.
27. メールを書く｛うちに・間に｝、パッケージが届くのを思い出したんだ。
I remembered that my package would arrive while I was writing an e-mail.
In Ex. 27, the spur of one’s memory could cause V1 to be postponed, making V1 sound intermittent like is the case in Ex. 24 and befitting of ～うちに’s use. If, however, V2 were just a floating memory in the course of V1, that would fall best under ～間に’s domain. We can also assume that because of the need of V2 to be fulfillable within the span of V1, that V1 in Ex. 27 must be occurring within a snippet of time, for V1 itself may be paused (=stopped).
～ている＋｛間に・うちに｝
When the progressive aspect ～ている is invoked with both ～間に and ～うちに, the timeline of V1 with which V2 must be completed by is considerably long in duration, which is also a reflection of aspect—how the clauses behave over time.
28. 赤ちゃんが寝ている｛うちに・間に｝、新聞を読むよ。
I’ll read the newspaper while the baby is sleeping.
29. 彼氏が晩ご飯の支度をしている｛うちに・間に｝、宿題を全部済ませてしまった。
I finished all of my homework while my boyfriend was preparing dinner.
～ないうちに
First, consider the following examples.
30. ｛まだ覚えている・忘れない｝うちに宿題をします。
I’ll do my homework {while I remember/before I forget}.
31. ｛涼しい・暑くならない｝うちに、夏休みの宿題をしてしまいました。
I completed all of my summer break homework {while it was cool/before it got hot}.
32. ｛明るい・暗くならない｝うちに帰りなさい。(Stern)
Come home {while it’s light/before it gets dark}.
～ないうちに shows that V2 is realized before V1neg were to realize in the affirmative. You can reword ～ないうちに with V1pos ～間に, granted that V1pos is the antonym of V1neg that is used with ～ないうちに. This interchangeability necessitates that viewing the situation from the opposite angle is possible. So, in the case of Ex. 32, getting home in time before it is dark is fine, in the same sense that getting home is being done when the sun is still up. When V1neg does finally occur in the affirmative, V2 ought to have been completed. Note, though, that ～ないうちに inherently implies a misfortune if V2 does not occur by the time V1neg does happen to realize. This implication does not occur with statements made with ～間に.
～ないうちに can be the only correct version of a sentence. For instance, in Exs. 33 and 34, see how the opposite isn’t possible with either うち or 間. Shots are preventative, so it’s logical that ～ないうちに makes sense.
33. 病気にならないうちに、予防注射をしておいた方がいいですよ。〇
It’s best that you get immunizations in advance before you get ill.
34. 丈夫な｛うち・間｝に、予防注射をしておいた方がいいですよ。X
It’s best that you get immunizations in advance while you’re sturdy.
35. 蚊が｛入らない 〇・出ている X｝うちに、蚊帳を吊った。
I hanged up the mosquito net {before 〇/while X} the mosquitoes got in.
Remember, when you can visualize a beginning and end point, ～ない間に can be used, but all of the facts leading up to now hold.
36. 誰もいない｛うちに・間に｝、机を片付けた。
While there was no one, I fixed up the desks.
～ないうちに vs ～前に
With “V1neg＋うちに＋V2“, V2 is a positive situation which brings about a positive outcome so long as it happens. In the event V1neg does occur, that outcome is, likewise, unfavorable. This nuancing does not apply to ～まえに.
37. 走っていたが、家に｛着かないうちに・着くまえに ?｝、雨に降られてしまった。
I was running, but I got hit by the rain before I could get home.
38. 妻が｛起きないうちに・起きるまえに｝、家を出た。
I left the house before my wife woke up.
39. 雨が降｛る前に・らないうちに｝、帰りましょう。
Let’s go home before it rains.
～間は vs ～うちは
One situation in which the particle に may be seen omitted from ～うちに is when it is topicalized with は for the purpose of highlighting the circumstance in which V2 is completed. Here, the difference between ～間は and ～うちは lies with whether V2 is still completed and not ongoing once V1 ends.
40. 彼氏が晩ご飯の支度する｛あいだは・うちは｝、宿題をしていた。
I was doing my homework while my boyfriend was preparing dinner (but not at other times).
41a. 授業のあいだは、ずっと居眠りしていた。 〇
41b. 授業のうちは、ずっと居眠りしていた。X
I napped all through class.
42. コーヒーって若いうちはあまり飲まないほうがいいんですか。
Is it best to not drink a lot of coffee while you’re young?
～うちが
Although any instance of ～うちが can theoretically be rephrased out of a sentence, its existence ought not be ignored. Here, we find that the main clause is NEVER an action that must be completed by the end of the dependent clause, but it is still a state that MUST remain true for as long as the dependent clause is true.
43. 何といっても、若いうちが花だよ。
No matter what they say, youth is the flower of life.
44. お酒は、ほろ酔いのうちが最高だと言われる。
It’s said that alcohol is the best while tipsy.
参照
『日本語類義表現使い分け辞典』 pgs 206-209 by 泉原省二.
- In the phrase 暗黙のうち, うち denotes the situation in which an action is performed. For this meaning, it may also be spelled in kanji as 裡. ↩︎