Korean grammar · Level 3 · 3급
V-는 동안
While, during
-는 동안 means “while” or “for the time that” something goes on. It never takes a past tense itself — the last verb shows when it happened. The two parts can have different subjects. With a noun, just add 동안: 방학 동안.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | -는 동안 | 타는 동안 · 자는 동안 |
| noun | 동안 | 방학 동안 · 두 시간 동안 |
Examples
기차를 타는 동안 한 번도 안 깼어요.
I didn't wake up once while we were on the train.
제가 요리하는 동안 호야 씨는 청소를 했어요.
While I cooked, Hoya did the cleaning.
방학 동안 경주에 여행을 갔어요.
I went on a trip to Gyeongju during the holidays.
Practise it in context · Level 3, Unit 7
While I was travelling
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
Open the unit →