当とう分ぶん

と

う

ぶ

ん

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

adverb, noun

for the time being; for the present

Refers to a temporary situation expected to continue for a while, often with the implication that things may change later.

当とう分ぶんの間あいだ、

この

店みせ

は

休きゅう

業ぎょう

し

ます

。

This shop will be closed for the time being.

当とう分ぶんは今いまの仕し事ごとを続つづけるつもりだ。

I intend to keep my current job for the present.

2

adverb, noun

for a while (from now); for some time to come

Emphasizes a period starting now and extending into the future, often used in negative or uncertain contexts.

当とう分ぶん雨あめは降ふらないだろう。
It probably won't rain for a while.
この問もん題だいは当とう分ぶん解かい決けつしそうにない。
This problem doesn't seem likely to be solved for some time to come.

Usage patterns

当とう分ぶん〈動どう詞し〉ないnot do something for the time being
当とう分ぶん、旅りょ行こうには行いかないつもりだ。
I don't plan to travel for the time being.
当とう分ぶんは〈事こと〉が続つづくsomething will continue for the time being
当とう分ぶんはこの忙いそがしさが続つづくだろう。
This busyness will probably continue for a while.

Expressions

当とう分ぶんの間あいだfor the time being; for the present

Kanji

当hit, right, appropriate
分part, minute of time, segment

Related words

しばらくN4sense 1
しばらく is casual and suggests a shorter, indefinite span, while 当分 is slightly more formal and implies a longer, more settled temporary state.
当とう面めん sense 1
当面 is typically used in business or official contexts for pressing immediate matters, whereas 当分 is a more general everyday term for 'for now'.
一いち時じN4
当分 specifically means 'for the time being, until further notice,' while 一時 can more generally mean 'for a while' or describe a past state.

Don't confuse with

等とう分ぶんN2sense 1
当分 (for the time being) and 等分 (equal division/share) are pronounced identically but have completely unrelated meanings, so context determines which is meant.

Written forms

当とう分ぶんUsage98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and everyday usage.
とうぶんUsage2%

Etymology

Compound of 当 (current, this) and 分 (portion, part), literally 'for the current portion of time'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning has been stable in modern Japanese.