Today’s Grammar Point
～うちは… = while ～, as long as ～
“While a certain condition of ～ continues/continued, another condition … (will) continue(d) also.”
Connection
- [plain form verb] + うちは …
- [てform] + いる うちは …
- ～（が）ない うちは …
- [いadjective] + うちは …
- [なadjective] + な うちは …
- [noun] +の うちは …
Examples
- 元気で働けるうちは、仕事を続けるつもりだ。
I’m going to continue working as long as I’m healthy enough to do so. - 熱があるうちは風呂に入ってはいけません。
You should not take a bath while you are running a fever. - 雪が降っているうちは誰も来なかった。
Nobody came while it was snowing. - 子どもが静かに遊んでいるうちは、遊ばせておきましょう。
Leave the child alone while he/she is playing quietly. - 熱がないうちは、大丈夫だ。
You will be OK as long as you don’t develop a fever. - わたしの目の黒いうちは、絶対にこの土地は売らない。
I will never sell this land as long as I’m alive.
目の黒いうち is a customary expression meaning “while … is alive” and is often used in a similar context. - まだ明るいうちは仕事を続けよう。
I’ll carry on working as long as the sun is out. - 若いうちは疲れを知らない。
When you are young, you don’t know the meaning of fatigue. - 学生のうちは、なんでもできる。
You can do anything while you are a student. - 小学生のうちは、好きなことをさせてあげましょう。
Let children do whatever they want to do while they are in the primary school.
Variation
～うちが ….。
If the particle after うち is changed from は to が, it states the time described with ～ is/was a/the special time (in the person’s life) – mostly in a positive meaning, so the words like 幸せ (happiness), 一番 (No. 1), 花 (the best time) and 勝負 (the crunch time) are often used in the second part of the sentence.
Examples
- 歩けるうちが幸せだった。
I was happy when I was able to walk. - 赤ん坊は寝ているうちが一番かわいい。
Babies are cutest when they are asleep. - 知らないうちが花。
Happiness is not knowing. (← You are better off while you didn’t know.)
花 here means ”the best time” or “the best days.” - 元気なうちが一番だ。
Your best time is when you are still healthy. - 新人のうちが勝負だ。
The time to act is while you are a new comer.
- うち
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