What Does 동안 Mean in Korean and How to Use It?

동안 means ‘while’. It can be used in the form of Noun동안 or Verbs-는 동안.

It 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.

Examples:

먹다 + -는동안 -> 먹는 동안

가다 + -는동안  -> 가는 동안

When used in the form ‘Verbs-는 동안’， the subjects of the first and second clauses can be either the same or different.

(same person) (내개) 한국에서 사는 동안 (나는) 좋은 친구들을 많이 만났어요.

While I lived in Korea, I made a lot of good friends.

(different persons) 내가 친구들과 노는 동안 동생은학교에서 열심히 공부했어요.

While I played with my friends, my little brother/sister was studying hard at school.

What is the difference between -면서 and-는 동안?

-면서 is used when one person performs two or more actions simultaneously, and the subjects of the first and second clauses must be the same. However, -는 동안(에)

can be used even when the subjects of the first and second clauses are not the same; that is, it can be used to indicate that while the subject of the first clause is performing some action, the subject of the second clause is also performing an action.

하영 씨는 음악을 들으연서 책올 읽었습니다. Hayeong listened to music while (she) read a book.

하영 씨가 음악을 듣는 동안에 재준 씨는 책을얽었습니다. While Hayeong listened to music, Jaejun read a book.