while; at the same time; coincidentally (がてら) – Japanese Grammar がてら (gatera)

Q: What JLPT level is がてら?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use がてら in a sentence?

Attach がてら to the appropriate verb or noun form. While; at the same time; coincidentally

Q: Is がてら formal or casual Japanese?

がてら is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

がてら

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

gatera

while; at the same time; coincidentally

という to iu を機に o ki ni ようが〜ようが /ようと〜ようと you ga~you ga / you to~you to ものを mono o に足らない/に足りない ni taranai/tarinai だに / だにしない dani / dani shinai もはや mohaya ても知らない temo shiranai としたことが toshita koto ga なりに / なりの nari ni / nari no 手前 temae までもない / までもなく made mo nai/naku 思いをする omoi o suru でもあり〜でもある demo ari~demo aru そびれる sobireru を境に o sakai ni のやら / ものやら /ことやら no yara / mono yara/ koto yara つ〜つ tsu~tsu 嫌いがある kirai ga aru 羽目になる hame ni naru という to iu を機に o ki ni ようが〜ようが /ようと〜ようと you ga~you ga / you to~you to ものを mono o に足らない/に足りない ni taranai/tarinai だに / だにしない dani / dani shinai もはや mohaya ても知らない temo shiranai としたことが toshita koto ga なりに / なりの nari ni / nari no 手前 temae までもない / までもなく made mo nai/naku 思いをする omoi o suru でもあり〜でもある demo ari~demo aru そびれる sobireru を境に o sakai ni のやら / ものやら /ことやら no yara / mono yara/ koto yara つ〜つ tsu~tsu 嫌いがある kirai ga aru 羽目になる hame ni naru

🃏 Flashcard

がてら

gatera

Tap to reveal usage

while; at the same time; coincidentally

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading gatera

Post ID 51219

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

while; at the same time; coincidentally

📖 How to use it

がてら expresses doing one thing while taking the opportunity to do another, often during a trip or errand.

Attaches to Attach to the ます-stem of a verb (the form before ます, e.g., 散歩し → 散歩しがてら). Can also attach to a few nouns like 散歩がてら, but that is less common; the safest pattern is verb ます-stem + がてら.

This is a N1-level conjunction-like particle that means doing something 'while' or 'at the same time' doing something else. The action that comes before がてら is the main purpose, and the action after it is the secondary, often incidental, thing you do on the way. For example, 散歩しがてら (while taking a walk) you might buy groceries. The nuance is that you do the second action because it is convenient or fits with the first, not as the main goal.

がてら is quite formal and literary. In everyday conversation, you would normally use ついでに (on the way, while at it) or ながら (while doing). However, がてら appears in written narratives, essays, and polite announcements. It is not rude, but it sounds bookish, so you would not use it in casual chat with friends.

Note that がてら is often used when going somewhere: the ます-stem verb indicates the activity you are doing while traveling, and the second clause describes what you do at that place. It is not used for purely simultaneous actions like 'watching TV while eating' — that is ながら.

駅まで散歩しがてら、パンを買ってきた。

Eki made sanpo shigatera, pan o katte kita.

I took a walk to the station and bought some bread on the way.

買い物がてら、銀行に寄った。

Kaimono gatera, ginkō ni yotta.

While I was out shopping, I stopped by the bank.

海外出張がてら、その国を観光した。

Kaigai shutchō gatera, sono kuni o kankō shita.

I visited that country as a tourist while on a business trip abroad.

Not ついでについでに is very common in speech and attaches to verbs in past or dictionary form (e.g., 買い物のついでに), while がてら is more formal and attaches to the ます-stem. Use ついでに in daily conversation; reserve がてら for written or polished contexts.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

がてら

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat がてら three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using がてら. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

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がましい

look like; sound like; somewhat like ~

ごとき/ごとく/ごとし

like; as if; the same as ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern がてら mean? ▼

While; at the same time; coincidentally

What JLPT level is がてら? ▼

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 がてら in a sentence? ▼

Attach がてら (gatera) 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 がてら formal or casual Japanese? ▼

がてら 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 がてら long-term? ▼

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.