Grammar › N3 · 02 Time and sequence

〜ないうちに: before (something happens)

N3 · 02 Time and sequence

Says to do something before a situation changes.

Verb ない-form + うちに. Do it while the current state still lasts and before it ends. The speaker wants to finish in time. Compare 〜まえに, which is plain "before". 〜ているうちに means a change happens during an action.

Examples

雨あめが降ふらないうちに、洗濯物せんたくものを取り込とりこもう。

Let us bring in the laundry before it rains.

忘わすれないうちに、メモしておいてください。

Please write it down before you forget.

Study 〜ないうちに in the course →