〜がてら
gatera
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
while doing …; taking the opportunity of …
Aがてら B means you do B while doing A, with one outing serving both purposes. A is usually a movement-type activity (散歩, 買い物, 送る) and B is done along the way. The tone is light and everyday: "I'll pop into the bookshop while I'm out walking."
Mostly spoken or light written Japanese (diaries, blogs). Formal letters use かたがた instead. The action is usually a physical outing.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vます-stem + がてら (歩きがてら, 送りがてら)Noun of action + がてら (散歩がてら, 買い物がてら)Aがてら + B: B is the sentence's main verb
Visual diagram
| Aspect | nuance | register | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜がてら | one outing, two purposes | everyday, light | 散歩がてら手紙を出す |
| 〜かたがた | formal visit with a second purpose | very formal | お礼かたがた伺う |
| 〜ついでに | B is an afterthought added to A | casual | 出かけたついでに買う |
| 〜を兼ねて | one event serves two roles | neutral | 研修を兼ねた旅行 |
Natural examples
散歩がてら、郵便局まで手紙を出しに行った。
さんぽがてら、ゆうびんきょくまでてがみをだしにいった。
I went to the post office to mail a letter while taking a walk.
Walk (main outing) + mailing a letter (second purpose).
買い物がてら、新しくできたカフェをのぞいてみよう。
かいものがてら、あたらしくできたカフェをのぞいてみよう。
While out shopping, let us have a look at the new cafe.
Shopping trip + a peek into a new cafe; volitional ending shows the casual tone.
駅まで送りがてら、駅前の本屋に寄った。
えきまでおくりがてら、えきまえのほんやによった。
While seeing her off to the station, I dropped by the bookstore in front of it.
送りがてら: verb stem + がてら, movement to the station.
気分転換がてら、近くの公園まで走ってきた。
きぶんてんかんがてら、ちかくのこうえんまではしってきた。
I went for a run to the nearby park, partly to refresh myself.
がてら works with an abstract purpose too, as long as movement is involved.
実家に帰りがてら、昔の友人に会ってくるつもりだ。
じっかにかえりがてら、むかしのゆうじんにあってくるつもりだ。
While going back to my parents' home, I plan to meet an old friend.
Verb stem 帰り + がてら.
Similar grammar and the difference
Formal equivalent used in business letters with nouns like お礼 / ご挨拶. がてら is everyday. Compare side by side
Adds an incidental action to a trip already planned; the second action is minor. がてら gives both roughly equal weight. Compare side by side
A long-term second occupation, not a single outing. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 散歩するがてら、手紙を出した。
- ✓
- 散歩がてら / 散歩しがてら、手紙を出した。
- Why
- がてら follows a noun or the ます-stem, not the dictionary form.
- ✗
- お礼がてら、部長のお宅に伺いました。
- ✓
- お礼かたがた、部長のお宅に伺いました。
- Why
- For a formal visit to a superior use かたがた; がてら sounds too casual.
- ✗
- テレビを見がてら、宿題をした。
- ✓
- テレビを見ながら、宿題をした。
- Why
- がてら needs an outing or movement; two simultaneous actions at home take ながら.
Typical first elements: 散歩, 買い物, 見物, 帰省, 運動, 送り, 帰り. The main verb (B) usually involves going somewhere: 寄る, 行く, 出す, 会う. It is friendlier than かたがた and more purposeful than ついでに.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- Choose がてら when the first action is an everyday outing and the register is casual; choose かたがた when the noun is お礼 / ご挨拶 and the verb is 伺う.
- ながら is a distractor: it needs two simultaneous actions in the same place, not an errand on the way.
- In 並べ替え the chunk Nがてら typically comes first, followed by the destination and the main verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜がてら mean?
while doing …; taking the opportunity of …. Aがてら B means you do B while doing A, with one outing serving both purposes. A is usually a movement-type activity (散歩, 買い物, 送る) and B is done along the way. The tone is light and everyday: "I'll pop into the bookshop while I'm out walking."
How do you form 〜がてら?
Vます-stem + がてら (歩きがてら, 送りがてら) / Noun of action + がてら (散歩がてら, 買い物がてら) / Aがてら + B: B is the sentence's main verb. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜がてら used?
Mostly spoken or light written Japanese (diaries, blogs). Formal letters use かたがた instead. The action is usually a physical outing.
What is the difference between 〜がてら and 〜かたがた?
Formal equivalent used in business letters with nouns like お礼 / ご挨拶. がてら is everyday.
What is the difference between 〜がてら and 〜ついでに?
Adds an incidental action to a trip already planned; the second action is minor. がてら gives both roughly equal weight.
What is a common mistake with 〜がてら?
Wrong: 散歩するがてら、手紙を出した。 Right: 散歩がてら / 散歩しがてら、手紙を出した。 がてら follows a noun or the ます-stem, not the dictionary form.
Quick check
運動（ ）、駅まで歩いて行くことにしている。