“shibaraku no aida” vs. “toubun no aida”：You Think They Are The Same?
What is the difference between “しばらくの間(shibaraku no aida) and 当分の間(toubun no aida)“? Are they both used in the past tense? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!
しばらくの間(shibaraku no aida) / 当分の間(toubun no aida)
For a while / 暂时, 暂时/ 잠시, 당분간 / Trong thời gian này, Trong thời gian này
“しばらくの間 and 当分の間” mean “For a while” and which has been used as the meaning of “a period of time, especially a pretty long one”. The basic way to use it is “私はしばらくの間/当分の間___する。(I ___ for a while.)”, etc. For instance, “私はしばらくの間/当分の間休む。(I will be absent for a while.)”, etc. The tips for using them are that basically “しばらくの間” could be used in the past tense, the present tense and the future tense. Whereas “当分の間” could be only used in the present tense and the future tense EXCEPT FOR THE PAST TENSE. For instance, although you could say “しばらくの間、休んでました。(I was away for a while.)”, you wouldn’t say “当分の間、休んでました。(I was away for a while.)”. However, you would say “しばらくの間/当分の間休みます。(I will be absent for a while.). And, “しばらくの間会っていなかった。(We haven’t seen each other for a while.)” sounds natural, however, “当分の間会っていなかった。(We haven’t seen each other for a while.)” sounds weird. You would say “当分の間会わないだろう。(We won’t see each other for a while.)” sounds natural. Furthermore, native speakers tend to omit “の間” of “しばらくの間 and 当分の間“, so you would say “しばらく” and “当分“. They are used as the same meaning, however, putting “の間” is a little bit polite, because they are not omitted. Additionally, “当分” is a little formal than “しばらく”. Lastly, “当分” sounds a little bit LONGER TIME than “しばらく”. Everybody could use this both in daily conversations as casual and in business situations as formal, such as “しばらく/当分休むね。(I will be absent for a while.)” as casual and “しばらく/当分休みます。(I would be absent for a while.)”.
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Sample
yukaしばらく休むね。 (I will be absent for a while.) (我要休息一段时间。) (잠시 휴식할게.) (Tôi sẽ đi nghỉ một lúc nhé.) (shibaraku yasumu ne.)
tatsuyaしばらくの間、レッスンを休んでいいですか？ (Can I stay away from lessons for a while?) (我可以暂时休息一下不去上课吗？) (잠시 레슨을 쉬어도 괜찮을까요?) (Tôi có thể nghỉ giữa tiết một chút được không?) (shibaraku no aida, ressun wo yasunde īdesu ka?)
yukaしばらく日本語を使ってないからなまっちゃった。 (I haven’t used Japanese for a while so my Japanese is rusty.) (我有一段时间没有说日语，口音都变了。) (잠시 일본어를 사용하지 않았더니 무뎌졌어.) (Tôi đã không sử dụng tiếng Nhật một thời gia nên cách phát âm bị sai.) (shibaraku nihongo wo tsukatte nai kara namatchatta.)
tatsuyaしばらくいなかったですよね？ (You were away for a while?) (会有一阵子不在，对吧？) (잠시 안계셨지요?) (Bạn đã không ở đây một thời gian rồi nhỉ?) (shibaraku inakatta desu yone?)
yuka当分休みます。 (I will be absent for a while.) (我要暂时休息一下。) (당분간 쉽니다.) (Tôi sẽ nghỉ ngơi một lát.) (tōbun yasumi masu.)
tatsuya当分の間、レッスンを休んでいいですか？ (Can I stay away from lessons for a while?) (我可以暂时休息一下不去上课吗？) (당분간 수업을 쉬어도 괜찮을까요?) (Tôi có thể nghỉ giữa tiết một lúc được không?) (tōbun no aida, ressun wo yasunde ī desu ka?)
yuka当分忙しいよ。 (I will be busy for a while.) (我暂时很忙。) (당분간 바쁠거야.) (Thời gian này tôi rất bận đấy.) (tōbun isogashī yo.)
tatsuya当分家を留守にするよ。 (I won’t be home for a while.) (我暂时不在家。) (당분간 집을 비워둘거야.) (Tôi sẽ vắng nhà một thời gian đấy.) (tōbun ie wo rusu ni suru yo.)
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