-는 동안
Quick answer: -는 동안 means while — one thing goes on for the whole time of another.
How to form it
Verb stem + 는 동안 · same form after any stem · after a noun: N 동안 (for N)
In Korean: 동사 어간 + 는 동안 받침과 상관없습니다 명사에는 N 동안
What to know
동안 has two lives. After a noun it is a length of time — 이틀 동안, 일주일 동안. After -는 it is a stretch of another action — 가는 동안. The second one always takes -는, never -은, because the two things are happening at once.
Examples
- 기차를 타는 동안 잤어요.I slept while I was on the train.
- 이틀 동안 부산에 있었어요.I was in Busan for two days.
- 기다리는 동안 책을 읽었어요.I read a book while I waited.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 2 (TOPIK I), Lesson 6: 이틀 동안 전주에 갔다 왔어요 — I went to Jeonju for two days. Also in the Level 2 book.
Practise -는 동안 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 2, Lesson 6 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.