JLPT N1 Grammar – The difference between “〜かたがた” and “〜がてら”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between “〜かたがた” and “〜がてら”
2. 〜かたがた
3. 〜がてら
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similar Articles
7. Comments

Q: What is the difference between “〜かたがた” and “〜がてら”?

A: Both expressions indicate adding another purpose to a single action, but they differ in usage and tone.
“〜かたがた” is used in formal or business situations and gives the impression of politely accomplishing two purposes at once.
On the other hand, “〜がてら” is a more casual and natural expression used in everyday situations, implying doing something else “on the way” or “along with” another action.

AかたがたB (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
Expresses giving multiple purposes to a single action and accomplishing those purposes simultaneously
A formal expression often used in polite or business situations

[Rule]
[N] Noun of a する verb + かたがた

[Examples]
ご報告ほうこくかたがたお礼れい申もうし上あげます。
I would like to express my gratitude along with this report.

挨拶あいさつかたがた、お世話せわになった先生せんせいの家いえを訪おとずれた次第しだいです。
I visited my former teacher’s home to express my greetings and appreciation.

今度こんど、結婚けっこんの挨拶あいさつかたがた、そちらにお伺うかがいしてもよろしいでしょうか。
May I visit you soon to offer my greetings and inform you of my marriage?

“AかたがたB” expresses the idea of adding a second purpose (B) to a first action (A) and accomplishing both at the same time.
It is not often used in daily conversation but is frequently used in formal greetings, letters, and business contexts.

A and B each tend to appear with certain common words, and B often includes conventional or set noun expressions.

[Common words used with A]

訪おとずれる (to visit), 訪問ほうもんする (to pay a visit), 伺うかがう (to call on)

[Common words used with B]

お祝いわい (celebration), お礼れい (thanks), ご報告ほうこく (report), お見舞みまい (visit to express concern), お詫わび (apology)

[Examples]
新年しんねんの挨拶あいさつかたがた、社長しゃちょうのお宅たくへ伺うかがいました。
I visited the president’s residence to offer New Year’s greetings.

お礼れいかたがた、これまでの尽力じんりょくに感謝かんしゃ申もうし上あげます。
I would like to express my gratitude along with my thanks for your continued efforts.

お詫わびかたがた、直接ちょくせつお伺うかがいして事情じじょうをご説明せつめいいたします。
I will visit you in person to apologize and explain the situation directly.

AがてらB (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
Doing B on the occasion of an already planned action A
The two actions, A and B, are not performed simultaneously; B is used as an additional purpose accompanying A

[Rule]
[N] Noun of a する verb + がてら

[Examples]
散歩さんぽがてら祖母そぼの家いえを訪たずねました。　
I dropped by my grandmother’s house while taking a walk.

帰省きせいがてら、学生がくせい時代じだいの友達ともだちと食事しょくじをしました。
While visiting my hometown, I had a meal with my college friends.

京都きょうとへ出張しゅっちょうがてら神社じんじゃにお参まいりに行いきました。
I visited a shrine in Kyoto while on a business trip.

“AがてらB” carries the light meaning of “doing B while doing A” or “doing B on the occasion of A.”
It is a natural expression often used in everyday conversation and sounds softer and more casual than “AかたがたB.”
The possible combinations of A and B are broader than with “かたがた,” and this expression is especially well suited to actions that involve movement.

[Common words used with A]

散歩さんぽ (walk), 買い物か　もの (shopping), 旅行りょこう (trip), 外出がいしゅつ (going out), 出張しゅっちょう (business trip), 帰省きせい (returning home)

[Common words used with B]

行いく (go), 帰かえる (return), 歩あるく (walk), 訪おとずれる (visit) — mainly actions that involve movement

[Examples]
せっかくだしドライブがてら、海うみまで行いこう。
Since we’re going for a drive anyway, let’s go to the sea.
⇒ The drive was planned first, and you’re taking that opportunity to go to the sea as well.

外出がいしゅつがてら近ちかくの公園こうえんの桜さくらでも見みに行いこうかな。
I’m thinking of going out and seeing the cherry blossoms at a nearby park while I’m at it.

買かい物ものがてら昼食ちゅうしょくも食たべに行いきました。
I went shopping and also had lunch.

Let’s Compare

Which expression is more appropriate in the following case?

[Examples]
① 買かい物ものかたがた友達ともだちの家いえに行いきました。
② 買かい物ものがてら友達ともだちの家いえに行いきました。

The correct answer is ②. Since “かたがた” is used in formal situations, it sounds unnatural in casual, everyday contexts like this.
On the other hand, “AがてらB” means “to do B while doing A” or “to do B on the occasion of A.”
In this case, it naturally means “I stopped by my friend’s house while going shopping.”

Now, how about the following case?

[Examples]
① ご報告ほうこくかたがたごあいさつ申もうし上あげます。
② ご報告ほうこくがてらごあいさつ申もうし上あげます。

The correct answer is ①.
The polite and formal phrasing shows that it is used in a formal setting.
In this example, the action “A (report)” is combined with the purpose “B (greeting),” expressing that two purposes are fulfilled at the same time.

Summary

[AかたがたB]

• Expresses adding a second purpose (B) to the first action (A) and accomplishing both at the same time.
• Used more often in formal situations or business settings than in everyday conversation.

[AがてらB]

• Unlike performing two actions simultaneously, B is used as an additional purpose accompanying A.
• Compared with “AかたがたB,” it carries a stronger nuance of “doing something on the way” and is a more casual, everyday expression.

Similar Articles

---

▼ Subscribe to Our Newsletter ▼

Receive free tips for learning Japanese!

Comment for any questions!