JLPT N1・N5 Grammar – Difference between “〜ながら” and “〜かたわら”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜ながら” and “〜かたわら”
2. AながらB
3. AかたわらＢ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: Can “〜ながら” and “〜かたわら” be used interchangeably?
A: Both express doing two actions or states at the same time, but their nuance and usage are different. “〜ながら” emphasizes the simultaneity itself, while “〜かたわら” places focus on a secondary activity carried out alongside the main one. In some sentences they can be interchanged, but they do not always convey exactly the same meaning.
AながらB (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
Do A and B at the same time
[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + ながら
[Examples]
ケータイを見ながら運転してはいけません。
You must not drive while looking at your cellphone.
お茶を飲みながら、友だちと話しました。
I talked with my friend while drinking tea.
英語の講師として働きながら、専門学校に通っています。
I attend a vocational school while working as an English teacher.
まりさんは大学に通いながら、子育てもしています。
Mari goes to university while also raising her child.
“〜ながら” expresses doing two actions, A and B, simultaneously. It can be used for short-term actions as well as long-term activities. Naturally, A is placed as the secondary action, while B is placed as the main action.
[Examples]（Short-term）
音楽を聞きながら朝ごはんを食べます。
I eat breakfast while listening to music.
のんびりお茶でも飲みながら話しましょう。
Let’s talk while drinking tea at leisure.
[Examples]（Long-term）
ときどき作家活動をしながら、銀行で働いています。
I sometimes do writing activities while working at a bank.
留学中はカフェでバイトしながら、語学学校に通っていました。
During my study abroad, I went to a language school while working part-time at a café.
Let’s also read the article that compares “〜ながら” with other grammar points.
AかたわらB (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
Do B while also doing A / Do A, and at the same time do B as well
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + かたわら
[N] Noun + の + かたわら
[Examples]
銀行で働くかたわら、実は作家活動をしています。
I work at a bank, and at the same time I also do writing activities.
最近は正社員として働くかたわら、副業で働く人が増えています。
Recently, more and more people are working side jobs while being employed full-time.
“〜かたわら” is used in a structure where A is the main occupation or role, and B is a secondary activity. Although it can sometimes be replaced with “〜ながら,” “〜かたわら” is more often used for activities that continue over a long period of time. It expresses a state of balancing one’s main job with a side job, or a primary activity with a secondary one.
[Examples]
会社員として勤めるかたわら、週末は絵画の講師として働いています。
I work as an office employee, and at the same time I teach painting classes on weekends.
教師として生徒を教えるかたわら、教育関連の本を書いています。
While teaching students as a teacher, I also write books related to education.
画家として活動するかたわら、様々な展覧会の運営にも携わっています。
While working as a painter, I am also involved in managing various art exhibitions.
Let’s Compare
Which expression is appropriate in the following cases?
[Examples]
①音楽を聞きながら、さんぽするのが好きです。
②音楽を聞くかたわら、さんぽするのが好きです。
The correct answer is ①.
“〜ながら” can be used to express short-term simultaneous actions, but “〜かたわら” cannot be used in this way.
Now, what is the nuance difference when “ながら” and “かたわら” are substituted?
[Examples]
① 大学で研究をしながら、翻訳の仕事もしています。
② 大学で研究をするかたわら、翻訳の仕事もしています。
In ①, “〜ながら” emphasizes simultaneity, showing research and translation as parallel actions.
In ②, “〜かたわら” emphasizes the main–sub relationship, with research as the main activity and translation as the secondary one.
Summary
| Meaning | Usage | Nature of action | Point of emphasis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AながらB | Do A and B simultaneously | [V] Verb stem + ながら | Can be used for both short-term and long-term actions | Emphasizes simultaneity itself |
| AかたわらB | Do A (main) while also doing B as a secondary action | [V] Verb dictionary form + かたわら [N] Noun + の + かたわら | Mainly used for long-term activities | Emphasizes the main–sub relationship (main job + side activity) |
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. ながら
ポップコーンを食べながら映画を見るのが好きです。
I like watching movies while eating popcorn.
*Since “eating” and “watching a movie” are short-term simultaneous actions, ながら is correct.
A. どちらでもいい
写真家として活動しながらウェブデザインの仕事もしています。
写真家として活動するかたわらウェブデザインの仕事もしています。
I work as a photographer while also doing web design.
I work as a photographer, and at the same time I do web design on the side.
*Because this is a long-term activity, both forms can be used. However, ながら gives a sense of parallel actions, while かたわら emphasizes the main–sub relationship.
A. しながら
みんなで話しながら食事するのは楽しいです。
It’s fun to have a meal while talking with everyone.
*Since “talking” and “having a meal” are short-term simultaneous actions, ながら is correct.
A. かたわら
銀行で働くかたわら週末はボランティア活動をしています。
While working at a bank, I also do volunteer work on weekends.
*With “working” as the main occupation, かたわら is natural, as it expresses the balance between one’s main job and side activities.
Similer Articles
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