Japanese by Example
Learning through examples in manga

Keeping still while her ribbon dries with 〜間

Grammar Explanation: During the same time with 〜間(に)

Manga panel from ふだつきのキョーコちゃん showing example of Keeping still while her ribbon dries with 〜間.
ふだつきのキョーコちゃん » Volume 5 » Page 80

Kyouko’s ribbon needs to be washed. Since she is a jiāngshī (vampire), she will uncontrollably attack people to drink their blood when her ribbon is removed. For this reason, her brother tries to tie her up with a rope. Kyouko hides in the bathroom, then sneaks out the window only to find Kenji waiting outside.

ケンジ:
「干(ほ)してる間(あいだ)じっとしてればすぐ済(す)むだろ。」
“Whileit's drying, if you'd just keep still it'd be over soon.”
ケンジ:
「なんで毎回(まいかい)そんなにイヤがる！！」
“Why do you seem to hate it so much every time?!”

Here, 間(あいだ) marks an exact overlap between the events of Kyouko’s ribbon drying and her keeping still.