~ 동안

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Korean word ~ 동안 (dong-an) is a really useful one that you'll hear and use all the time. Simply put, it means 'during' or 'for a period of time.' It's pretty straightforward, but there are a few nuances that are good to understand so you can use it correctly and naturally.

Think of ~ 동안 as defining a time frame during which something happens or continues. It's not about a specific point in time, but rather the duration. For example, if you want to say 'for three hours' or 'during summer vacation,' ~ 동안 is what you'll reach for.

Definition

During, for (a period of time).

Here’s a basic breakdown of how it works:

• You attach ~ 동안 directly after a noun that expresses a period of time.
• It can also follow a verb stem (usually in the ~는 동안 form) to mean 'while (doing something).' We'll focus on the noun usage first, as it's a great starting point.

Let's look at some common time nouns you'd use with ~ 동안:

• 하루 (ha-ru): a day
• 일주일 (il-ju-il): a week
• 한 달 (han dal): a month
• 일년 (il-nyeon): a year
• 방학 (bang-hak): vacation
• 회의 (hoe-ui): meeting

Now, let’s get into some examples to really cement your understanding. Pay close attention to how ~ 동안 clearly marks the duration of the action.

Here, '한 시간' (han si-gan) means 'one hour,' and adding ~ 동안 makes it 'for one hour.' The studying happened throughout that entire hour.

In this example, '방학' (bang-hak) is 'vacation,' so '방학 동안' means 'during vacation.' The travel happens somewhere within the vacation period.

'이틀' (i-teul) means 'two days,' so '이틀 동안' clearly states the duration of not eating. You can see how flexible it is for different time periods.

Understanding ~ 동안 is a fundamental step in being able to express durations and time frames in Korean effectively. It’s a simple structure with big impact on your communication. Practice using it with different time nouns, and you'll find it becomes second nature very quickly.

§ What ~동안 Means

The Korean word ~동안 (dong-an) is a really useful one. It means 'during' or 'for' a period of time. You’ll use it constantly once you get the hang of it. Think of it as a time marker, telling you how long an action or state lasts. It can be attached to nouns indicating a duration, or directly after a verb stem followed by ~는 (~neun) or ~던 (~deon) to describe actions that happen over a period.

DEFINITION

During, for (a period of time).

§ Basic Usage with Nouns

The simplest way to use ~동안 is by attaching it to a noun that expresses a duration. This could be hours, days, months, or even broader terms like 'vacation' or 'weekend'.

• Noun + 동안: This is the most common structure. The noun specifies the length of time.

I studied for 3 hours.

I'm going to travel during the vacation.

§ Using ~동안 with Verbs

You can also connect ~동안 to verbs to describe the duration of an action. This is a bit more complex but equally useful. You'll typically see it with ~는 (~neun) for ongoing actions or ~던 (~deon) for past actions that continued for a period.

• Verb Stem + ~는 동안: This means 'while (doing something)' or 'during the time that (something is happening)'.

We talked while eating food.

The baby didn't cry while I slept for a while.

• Verb Stem + ~던 동안: This refers to a past action that continued for some time. It's often used when reflecting on a past period.

I learned a lot during the time I lived in Korea.

§ Where You Actually Hear This Word — Work, School, News

You'll encounter ~동안 in almost any context where time duration is discussed. It's a fundamental part of expressing when things happen or for how long. Here are some examples you might hear in everyday situations:

• At Work:

Please refrain from using your phone during the meeting.

I'll quickly go to the bank during lunchtime.

• At School:

You must be quiet during the exam.

If you have questions during class, please raise your hand.

• In the News:

Heavy rain fell during last weekend.

It is expected that price increases will continue during this month.

§ Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to get comfortable with ~동안 is to start using it. Try describing your daily routine, what you did last weekend, or what you plan to do next vacation. Focus on expressing the duration of your activities. You'll quickly find it becomes second nature.