는 동안 Grammar

는 동안

This pattern expresses the length of time starting when a certain action or behavior begins and lasting until it ends. It corresponds to ‘during’ or ‘while’ in English. After nouns, 동안 is added, and after verbs -는 동안 is added.

Example:

1. 어제 4시간 동안 공부했어요. Yesterday, I studied for four hours.

2. 곰은 겨울 동안에 겨울잠을 자요. Bears hibernate during winter.

3. 친구들이 점심을 먹는 동안 나는 숙제를 했어요.

I did my homework while my friends were eating lunch.

**When used in the form 'V-는 동안, the subjects of the first and second clauses can be either the same or different.

→ (내가) 한국에서 사는 동안 (나는) 좋은 친구들을 많이 만났어요.
While I lived in Korea, I made a lot of good friends.
→ 내가 친구들과 노는 동안 동생은 학교에서 열심히 공부했어요.'
While I played with my friends, my little brother/sister was studying hard at school.

In Conversation

가: 얼마 동안 한국에 있을 거예요? How long will you be in Korea?
나: 3년 동안 있을 거예요.I should be here for three years.

가: 방학 동안에 뭐 할 거예요? What will you do during the vacation?
나: 친척 집을 방문할 거예요. I plan to visit my relatives' home.

가: 비행기가 2시간 후에 출발해요.

The plane will depart in two hours.

나: 그러면 비행기를 기다리는 동안 면세점에서 쇼핑을 합시다.
In that case, let's do some shopping at the duty-free shop while we wait for our flight.