JLPT N3

うちに

While / Before it changes

Structure

Verb/Adj/Noun うちに

How it works

うちに is used to indicate that an action should be completed while a certain state or condition continues, before it changes. It often implies a sense of urgency or that if you wait too long, the opportunity will be lost. When used with negative verbs (～ないうちに), it means 'before something happens.'

Examples

スープが温かいうちに、食べてください。

Please eat the soup while it is still warm.

忘れないうちに、メモしておきます。

I will make a note of it before I forget.

独身のうちに、いろいろな国へ旅行したいです。

While I am still single, I want to travel to many different countries.

Common mistakes

Confusing うちに with 間に (aida ni). While both mean 'while,' うちに emphasizes doing something before the current state ends, whereas 間に simply describes an action occurring within a time frame.

Tip

Think of うちに as 'while I still have the chance.' If the sentence implies a deadline or a change of state is coming (like food getting cold or a child growing up), use うちに.

More JLPT N3 grammar

としてに対してについてによってに関してにとってわけだわけがない

See うちに in real Japanese

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