間に / ところ / たばかり

While ~ / in the middle of ~ / just did ~

'While watching TV, the phone rang.' 'I'm right in the middle of eating.' 'I just arrived.' Japanese has precise expressions for WHEN something happens relative to something else.

What you'll learn

• 〜ている間に: while doing ~ (something else happens)
• 〜ているところ: right in the middle of ~
• 〜たところ / たばかり: just finished (immediate vs recent)

JLPT N4 Japanese self-study — interactive practice, instant feedback, completely free.