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合間 (あいま, aima) Japanese meaning: interval | Kotomora

合あい間ま

あ

い

ま

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

interval; break; pause; spare moment

Refers to a gap or free time between events, tasks, or activities. Often used with に or を to indicate doing something during that interval.

仕し

事ごと

の

合あい

間ま

に

コーヒー

を

飲の

む

。

I drink coffee during a break from work.

授じゅ業ぎょうの合あい間まを利り用ようして宿しゅく題だいを終おわらせた。

I used the gaps between classes to finish my homework.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の合あい間まにduring breaks from doing X
仕し事ごとの合あい間まに少すこし休きゅう憩けいした。
I took a short break in the middle of work.
合あい間まを見みつけるto find a spare moment
忙いそがしい中なかでも合あい間まを見みつけて勉べん強きょうしている。
Even though I'm busy, I find spare moments to study.
合あい間まを利り用ようするto make use of a spare moment
通つう勤きんの合あい間まを利り用ようして本ほんを読よむ。
I make use of the spare moments during my commute to read.

Expressions

合あい間ま合あい間まin spare moments; between tasks; whenever there's a break
合あい間まを縫ぬうmake good use of spare moments; find time between tasks · weave one's way through a crowd

Kanji

合fit, suit, join
間interval, space

Related words

休きゅう憩けいN4
休憩 is a deliberate, often scheduled rest period, while 合間 is simply the natural gap that exists between activities.
暇ひまN5
暇 refers more broadly to free time or spare time in general, whereas 合間 specifically means the gap between two activities or events.
間あいだN5
間 is a general word for an interval of time or space, while 合間 is used specifically for a brief pause carved out between tasks.
隙すき間まN2
合間 is the natural word for a pause or interval between activities, whereas standalone 隙間 sounds dated when used for a spare moment in time.
隙すきN1
合間 refers only to a break or interval between activities, while 隙 also covers physical gaps and vulnerable moments.

Don't confuse with

隙すき間まN2
隙間 denotes a physical gap or crack in space, while 合間 denotes a gap in time between activities.

Written forms

合あい間まUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
あいまUsage6%
合あい間まUsage5%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; it is such.

Etymology

Compound of 合 (ai, 'between') and 間 (ma, 'space, interval'). The reading あいま is a standard combination of these elements.