noun, suffix
Most often used as a suffix after a time expression to indicate the length of time: 三日間, 一週間, 二時間, etc.
三日間、雨が降り続いた。
It kept raining for three days.
調査期間は一か月間です。
The survey period is one month.
noun, suffix, adverb
Used after nouns to mean between or among members, groups, countries, companies, and similar units; common in slightly formal or written compounds such as 両国間 and 社員間.
両国間の交渉は続いている。
Negotiations between the two countries are continuing.
社員間で情報を共有する。
Information is shared among employees.
noun
good opportunity; chance; opening
Rare, formal use referring to an opening or chance, especially in fixed or Chinese-style expressions such as 間に乗じる.
「間に乗じる」は、好機に付け込むという意味の硬い表現だ。
“間に乗じる” is a formal expression meaning to take advantage of a good opportunity.
noun
estrangement; discord; alienation
Rare and old-fashioned as an independent noun; it refers to a breach, separation, or discord between people or groups, mainly in fixed literary-style phrasing.
「間を生ずる」は、不和や隔たりが生まれることを表す古風な言い方だ。
“間を生ずる” is an old-fashioned way to say that discord or distance has arisen.
noun
Rare clipped or literary use connected with 間諜. Modern Japanese normally uses 間諜 or スパイ instead.
See also: 間諜
「間」は、古い文脈で「間諜」、つまりスパイの略として使われることがある。
In older contexts, “間” may be used as an abbreviation of “間諜,” meaning a spy.
This is the Sino-Japanese reading かん of 間. The kanji is conventionally associated with space, gaps, intervals, and what lies between things; the rarer senses extend from ideas such as an opening, a breach, or the abbreviated form of 間諜.