Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 5/17

ながら + に

While being, Born (with), Traditional (old-fashioned, as it was long ago), As always, While crying or in tears, (Burned) alive

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb[ます+ ながら(に)
Noun + ながら(に)
Verb[ます+ ながら + + Noun
Noun (A) + ながら + + Noun (B)
()きる → ()ながら(にして)
()まれる → ()まれながら(にして)
(むかし)(むかし)ながら
いつも → いつもながら
毎回(まいかい)毎回(まいかい)ながら
(なみだ)(なみだ)ながらに
()(いき)()(いき)ながら
いる → いながら(にして)

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

Rare Kanji

乍ら

About ながらに

When combined with the case-marking particle に, ながら 'while' as a suffix will indicate that something remains in the state of (A), while also having or doing (B). This can be translated as 'while being (A), (B)', or '(A) as always (B)'.
ながらに will be seen following nouns, or verbs in their stem form. Additionally, して may be added to the end of に, without any change to the nuance.
  • 自由権(じゆうけん)(ひと)()まれながらに()っている権利(けんり)(ひと)つだ。
    Freedom is one of the rights that people are born with.
  • (いえ)()ながらにして仕事(しごと)ができるから、職場(しょくば)までわざわざ()かなくても()くなった。
    I can work while being home, so I don't have to go all the way to my workplace anymore.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)(なみだ)ながらに(かれ)見送(みおく)った。
    She sent him off while crying.
  • 子供(こども)ながらにして、なんで(おや)がいつも喧嘩(けんか)をしていたかは理解(りかい)していた。
    Even as a child, I understood why my parents were always fighting.
ながらに is a structure that has many potential translations in English, but the key point to remember is that (B) is something that is being highlighted as happening or existing in same state as (A) in an unchanged state. This doesn't necessarily mean at the same time. For example, in the case of ()まれながらに, it can be translated as '(B) has existed since birth', but what it really means is that 'while being in the state of (A), (B) is still there'.
Caution
ながらに tends to only be used with a limited set of words, so it is best not to use it with structures that you have not already seen at some point in the past.

Examples

  • コウタはカエデからの手紙(てがみ)()()りつつ、(なみだ)ながらに(よろこ)んだ。

    While crying with joy, Kouta held the letter from Kaede in his hands.

  • いつもながらあなたたちと(はな)のは(たの)しいです

    It is a pleasure to talk with you, as always.

  • ()ながら()かれるところだった。

    She was almost burned alive.

  • 料理(りょうり)レシピサイト:「(むかし)ながらのオムライスの(つく)(かた)簡単(かんたん)()かりやすい動画(どうが)紹介(しょうかい)しています。」

    A site with cooking recipes: 'With this simple and easy-to-understand video, we will introduce a traditional omuraisu recipe.'

  • テレワークというのは(いえ)ながら(はたら)ということだ。

    Telework means to work while being at home.

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