JLPT N1 grammar
〜がてら — Meaning & Examples
"While doing X, (also do Y)" — one main outing, a bonus purpose folded in. 散歩がてら、コンビニに寄った. Cf. ながら (two equal, simultaneous actions).
〜がてら — "While Doing X, (Also Do Y)"
がてら describes doing two things at once by combining them efficiently — X is the main errand, and Y happens as a natural bonus along the way.
Pattern: [noun／verb ます-stem] + がてら
散歩がてら、コンビニに寄った。
= While out for a walk, I stopped by the convenience store.
買い物がてら、友達に会ってきた。
= While out shopping, I went and met a friend.
運動がてら、駅まで歩くことにしている。
= I make a habit of walking to the station, combining it with exercise.
がてら vs ながら: ながら describes two SIMULTANEOUS actions of equal weight (音楽を聴きながら勉強する = study while listening to music). がてら describes one main outing with a bonus purpose folded in — not simultaneous, but combined efficiently.
Key feeling: Getting two birds with one errand — practical, slightly pleased-with-yourself efficiency.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜がてら. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「散歩がてら、コンビニに寄った。」 means?
- I went for a walk and separately visited the store on another day
- I refused to walk to the store
- The store closed during my walk
- While out for a walk, I stopped by the convenience store
Show answer
Answer: While out for a walk, I stopped by the convenience store
がてら = while doing X, also do Y — one main outing (a walk) with a bonus purpose (the store) folded in.
2. How does がてら differ from ながら?
- ながら = two simultaneous actions of equal weight; がてら = one main outing with a bonus purpose combined in
- They are identical
- がてら cannot follow nouns
- ながら is more formal than がてら
Show answer
Answer: ながら = two simultaneous actions of equal weight; がてら = one main outing with a bonus purpose combined in
ながら = truly simultaneous, equal-weight actions (聴きながら勉強する); がてら = a single trip efficiently combining a main errand with a bonus one.
Practise 〜がてら in the free app
This point is part of the “Tendency, Seeming & In Passing — きらいがある・めく・がてら・ながら(に)して” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Tendency, Seeming & In Passing — きらいがある・めく・がてら・ながら(に)して
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜がてら mean?
"While doing X, (also do Y)" — one main outing, a bonus purpose folded in. 散歩がてら、コンビニに寄った. Cf. ながら (two equal, simultaneous actions).
Is 〜がてら on the JLPT N1 test?
〜がてら is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Tendency, Seeming & In Passing — きらいがある・めく・がてら・ながら(に)して”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜がてら?
Open the “Tendency, Seeming & In Passing — きらいがある・めく・がてら・ながら(に)して” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.