〜かたわら
katawara
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
while (holding a main occupation), also …
AのかたわらB describes someone who has a main occupation A and, alongside it, keeps up a second long-term activity B: 会社勤めのかたわら小説を書く. It is about parallel lives over months or years, not about two things done at the same moment.
Written profiles, biographies, news articles and introductions of people. Formal; in conversation people say 〜をしながら or 〜の一方で.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vる + かたわらNoun + の + かたわらA (main occupation) のかたわら B (secondary activity), often with も
Visual diagram
| Aspect | time span | relation | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜かたわら | months or years | main job + side activity | 教師のかたわら執筆する |
| 〜ながら | the same moment | two simultaneous actions | 音楽を聞きながら勉強する |
| 〜がてら | one outing | one trip, two purposes | 散歩がてら寄る |
Natural examples
彼は会社勤めのかたわら、小説を書いている。
かれはかいしゃづとめのかたわら、しょうせつをかいている。
While working for a company, he also writes novels.
Main job (company work) + long-term side activity (writing novels).
母は家事をするかたわら、地域のボランティア活動にも参加している。
はははかじをするかたわら、ちいきのボランティアかつどうにもさんかしている。
Besides doing housework, my mother also takes part in local volunteer work.
Housework as the main role, volunteering alongside; note も marking the added activity.
大学で教えるかたわら、研究所の顧問も務めている。
だいがくでおしえるかたわら、けんきゅうじょのこもんもつとめている。
In addition to teaching at university, he serves as an advisor at a research institute.
Vる + かたわら with two professional roles.
彼女は子育てのかたわら、通信教育で資格の勉強を続けている。
かのじょはこそだてのかたわら、つうしんきょういくでしかくのべんきょうをつづけている。
While raising her children, she continues studying for a qualification by correspondence.
Main role + a study project sustained over time.
農業を営むかたわら、地元の小学校で昔の遊びを教えている。
のうぎょうをいとなむかたわら、じもとのしょうがっこうでむかしのあそびをおしえている。
Alongside running a farm, he teaches traditional games at the local primary school.
Typical of a newspaper profile.
Similar grammar and the difference
Two actions at the same moment ("while listening, I study"). かたわら is a long-term arrangement. Compare side by side
One outing serving two purposes. Not about occupations. Compare side by side
Contrasts two aspects of a person or situation; broader and not limited to occupations. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 音楽を聞くかたわら、宿題をした。
- ✓
- 音楽を聞きながら、宿題をした。
- Why
- Simultaneous momentary actions take ながら; かたわら is for long-term parallel activities.
- ✗
- 会社勤めかたわら、小説を書いている。
- ✓
- 会社勤めのかたわら、小説を書いている。
- Why
- A noun needs の before かたわら.
- ✗
- 小説を書くかたわら、会社に勤めている。
- ✓
- 会社に勤めるかたわら、小説を書いている。
- Why
- The main occupation comes first; the secondary activity follows. Reversing them sounds odd unless writing is truly the main job.
Subject is often a third person being introduced (彼は…のかたわら…も). The second activity is frequently marked with も: ボランティア活動にも参加している. Sounds like a written biography; avoid in casual chat.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- Look for an occupation noun (会社員, 教師, 主婦, 農業) before の and a continuing activity after; that is かたわら.
- The main distractors are ながら (momentary), がてら (outing), and 一方で (contrast).
- In 並べ替え, the chunk Nのかたわら is followed by the secondary activity ending in ている.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜かたわら mean?
while (holding a main occupation), also …. AのかたわらB describes someone who has a main occupation A and, alongside it, keeps up a second long-term activity B: 会社勤めのかたわら小説を書く. It is about parallel lives over months or years, not about two things done at the same moment.
How do you form 〜かたわら?
Vる + かたわら / Noun + の + かたわら / A (main occupation) のかたわら B (secondary activity), often with も. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜かたわら used?
Written profiles, biographies, news articles and introductions of people. Formal; in conversation people say 〜をしながら or 〜の一方で.
What is the difference between 〜かたわら and 〜ながら?
Two actions at the same moment ("while listening, I study"). かたわら is a long-term arrangement.
What is the difference between 〜かたわら and 〜がてら?
One outing serving two purposes. Not about occupations.
What is a common mistake with 〜かたわら?
Wrong: 音楽を聞くかたわら、宿題をした。 Right: 音楽を聞きながら、宿題をした。 Simultaneous momentary actions take ながら; かたわら is for long-term parallel activities.
Quick check
彼は大学で教える( )、翻訳の仕事も引き受けている。