かたがた
🃏 Flashcard
かたがた
katagata
Tap to reveal usage
while; at the same time; incidentally ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
katagata
Post ID
51240
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
while; at the same time; incidentally ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses doing something incidentally while taking the opportunity to do another thing.
Attaches to
Attaches to the noun form of a verb (e.g., お礼かたがた, お見舞いかたがた) or to a limited set of nouns like 運動 or 散歩, but mainly to verbal nouns (する-verbs) and the ます-stem of verbs (e.g., 伺いかたがた).
This pattern is used when you do one action as a convenient occasion to do another, often with a nuance of politeness or formality. It is equivalent to saying 'while doing X, I also do Y' or 'taking this opportunity to do X, I do Y'. The action expressed by かたがた is the main purpose, and the other action is secondary but done at the same time. It is quite formal and commonly found in written language, business letters, or polite speeches. In conversation, you would rarely use it; instead, you might say 'ついでに'.
お礼かたがた、近況報告のメールを送った。
Orei katagata, kinkyou houkoku no meeru o okutta.
I sent an email to update you on my situation, as a way of thanking you.
散歩かたがた、駅前の新しいカフェに行ってみた。
Sanpo katagata, ekimae no atarashii kafe ni itte mita.
I went to check out the new café near the station while I was out for a walk.
お見舞いかたがた、退院した友人の家を訪ねた。
O-mimai katagata, taiin shita yuujin no ie o tazuneta.
I visited my friend who had been discharged from the hospital, partly to see how he was doing.
Not ついでに
かたがた is formal and used mainly in writing or careful speech, while ついでに is casual and common in everyday conversation. Also, かたがた attaches to nouns or verb stems, but ついでに attaches to verbs in their past tense or ている form (e.g., 買い物に行ったついでに).
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Formal and somewhat literary; used in written language, business correspondence, or polite speeches, but rarely in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
かたがた
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat かたがた three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using かたがた. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern かたがた mean?
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While; at the same time; incidentally ~
What JLPT level is かたがた?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use かたがた in a sentence?
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Attach かたがた (katagata) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is かたがた formal or casual Japanese?
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かたがた is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember かたがた long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.