Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Keeping still while her ribbon dries with 〜間

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:
()してる(あいだ)じっとしてればすぐ()むだろ。」
While it'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?!”

Key Points

  1. 干してる間 means while it is drying

    • ()してる is the casual form of ()している.

    • (あいだ) marks the time span during which the ribbon is drying.

  2. The condition is じっとしてれば

    • じっとしていれば means “if you stay still”.

    • してれば is a casual contraction of していれば.

  3. すぐ済むだろ minimizes the problem

    • ()む means the matter will be finished.

    • だろ frames it as obvious: if Kyouko waits, it will be over soon.