-는 동안 in Korean: “while, during”
-는 동안
-neun dongan
while, during
Beginner · Linking ideas
-는 동안 (-neun dongan) means "while" or "during" and describes a stretch of time in which something else happens. After a noun, 동안 alone means "during" or "for" a period.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem | + 는 동안(에) | 자다 → 자는 동안, 먹다 → 먹는 동안 |
| Verb stem ending in ㄹ | drop ㄹ + 는 동안 | 살다 → 사는 동안 |
| Noun or length of time | + 동안 | 방학 → 방학 동안, 3년 → 3년 동안 |
How to use it
A-는 동안 B means B happens during the time A is going on. The two parts can have different people: 아기가 자는 동안 청소했어요 (I cleaned while the baby slept).
Use 는 even when talking about the past. The tense goes on the final verb.
After a noun or an amount of time, 동안 means "during" or "for": 방학 동안 (during vacation), 두 시간 동안 (for two hours). Adding 에 (동안에) is optional and changes little.
Examples
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Offering to cook
A parent's day
Looking back on a stay
Asking a friend
Don’t mix it up with
-다가: Shows one action being interrupted by another, with the same person. -는 동안 just marks a span of time, and the people can differ.
-(으)면서: Means doing two things at the same time yourself (eating while watching TV). -는 동안 focuses on the time period.
Common mistakes
Using past tense before 동안: 잤는 동안 is wrong. Say 자는 동안 and put the past at the end.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
Is there a difference between 동안 and 동안에?
Very little. 에 is optional and often dropped in speech.
How do I say "for two hours" in Korean?
Put 동안 after the length of time: 두 시간 동안.