The reading notes say - when 間 refers to a longer interval of time, it’s generally read as あいだ. For a short burst of time, it’s read as ま. When it means an interval of space, it’s usually read as あいだ.
I checked the context sentences on Google Translate:
たいてい、ねている間は、だんぼうを切ります。
Usually, I turn off the heater while I’m sleeping.
間 here is read as “ma” even though sleeping is a longer interval of time.
その間に、いそいでひるごはんをかきこみました。
Meanwhile, I shoved my lunch in my mouth.
間 here is read as “a i da” even though meanwhile seems like a short burst of time.
So it appears that the readings are the other way round? What have I misunderstood here?
Do you guys have better context examples to explain the difference between the two readings?
Like Leebo said, Google Translate is really unreliable. Although it learns languages over time through user feedback and other means, it’s not going to give you the correct reading or meaning pretty often.
I was going to suggest checking context sentences available on a bilingual dictionary, like weblio, but it doesn’t appear to have furigana. The problem with Jisho.org is that the example sentences there come from a database that’s hit or miss.
Do you know any bilingual dictionaries with good context sentences and furigana or at least some pronunciation guides, @Leebo ? Or anyone else?
I don’t know about bilingual dictionaries, but monolingual ones like weblio.jp (or 大辞林, which is an app I’m using) usually have different entries for the different readings. You can assume that all the examples under ま【間】 are also read ま:
