Japanese Grammar N1: ～かたがた (katagata) – Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Introduction

The Japanese grammar pattern ～かたがた (katagata) is an important expression that appears in JLPT N1 level Japanese. This formal expression serves multiple purposes in written and spoken Japanese, making it a valuable addition to your advanced Japanese vocabulary. This blog post will explore the uses, nuances, and applications of ～かたがた with plenty of examples and practice exercises.

What is ～かたがた?

～かたがた (katagata) is a formal expression that can have two primary meanings:

1. While doing something else / Taking the opportunity to: Indicates doing something additional while accomplishing a primary purpose
2. For the purpose of / In order to: Expresses that an action is done for a specific reason

Grammar Structure

The basic structure for using ～かたがた is:

Noun + かたがた
Verb (dictionary form) + かたがた

Usage and Examples

Usage 1: While doing something else / Taking the opportunity to

When using ～かたがた to express doing something while accomplishing another purpose:

Examples:

• 挨拶かたがたお礼を申し上げます。
  (While greeting you, I would like to express my gratitude.)
• 視察かたがた現地を訪問しました。
  (I visited the site while conducting an inspection.)
• 息抜きかたがた散歩に出かけました。
  (I went for a walk while taking a break.)

Usage 2: For the purpose of / In order to

When using ～かたがた to express that an action is done for a specific purpose:

Examples:

• 就職活動かたがた東京へ行きます。
  (I’m going to Tokyo for the purpose of job hunting.)
• ご報告かたがたお伺いしました。
  (I came to visit for the purpose of reporting to you.)
• 健康診断かたがた病院へ行きました。
  (I went to the hospital for the purpose of a health checkup.)

Comparison with Similar Expressions

～かたがた vs ～がてら

～がてら is another grammar pattern that expresses doing two actions simultaneously, but with some key differences:

• ～かたがた: Very formal, used in business or official situations. Often used with nouns of Japanese origin.
• ～がてら: Less formal than かたがた but still relatively formal. Can be used in a wider range of situations.

Examples of ～がてら:

• 買い物がてら友達に会いました。
  (I met my friend while shopping.)
• 散歩がてら近所を見て回りました。
  (I looked around the neighborhood while taking a walk.)

Key differences:

• ～かたがた is more formal and often used in written contexts or very polite speech
• ～がてら can be used in slightly more casual situations than かたがた
• ～かたがた often implies that the second action is somewhat important or has a specific purpose
• ～がてら often suggests the second action is more casual or incidental

Important Notes (⚠️)

⚠️ ～かたがた is primarily used in formal situations, business settings, or written communications.

⚠️ It’s often used with Japanese-origin words (和語) rather than loanwords.

⚠️ This expression is much more common in written Japanese than in everyday conversation.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (穴埋め問題)

Complete each sentence with the appropriate expression using かたがた:

1. お見舞い_______贈り物を持ってきました。
2. 会社訪問_______社長にお会いしました。
3. 引っ越し_______部屋の掃除をしました。
4. 同窓会_______母校を訪ねました。
5. お詫び_______直接お会いしました。

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice (選択問題)

Choose the most appropriate usage of かたがた:

1. 先生に相談（　　）大学へ行きました。
   a) かたがた　b) ながら　c) ために　d) ついでに
2. 友人の結婚式に出席（　　）京都を観光しました。
   a) ながら　b) かたがた　c) のに　d) だけ
3. 休暇（　　）故郷に帰りました。
   a) ついでに　b) かたがた　c) から　d) でも

Exercise 3: Translation (翻訳問題)

Translate these sentences into Japanese using かたがた:

1. I visited my parents while taking a trip to my hometown.
2. She came to the office for the purpose of discussing the project.
3. While expressing my gratitude, I would like to report the results.
4. He went abroad for the purpose of studying languages.
5. I sent a gift for the purpose of congratulating them.

Answers to Exercises

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. お見舞いかたがた贈り物を持ってきました。(I brought a gift while visiting the sick person.)
2. 会社訪問かたがた社長にお会いしました。(I met the president while visiting the company.)
3. 引っ越しかたがた部屋の掃除をしました。(I cleaned the room for the purpose of moving.)
4. 同窓会かたがた母校を訪ねました。(I visited my alma mater for the reunion.)
5. お詫びかたがた直接お会いしました。(I met you in person for the purpose of apologizing.)

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. a) かたがた (I went to the university for the purpose of consulting with the teacher.)
2. b) かたがた (I toured Kyoto while attending my friend’s wedding.)
3. b) かたがた (I returned to my hometown for the purpose of taking a vacation.)

Exercise 3 Answers:

1. 帰省かたがた両親を訪ねました。
2. プロジェクトについて話し合うかたがたオフィスに来ました。
3. 感謝の意を表すかたがた結果をご報告いたします。
4. 語学勉強かたがた海外へ行きました。
5. お祝いかたがた贈り物を送りました。

Conclusion

The grammar pattern ～かたがた is an elegant, formal expression that helps you express multiple purposes or intentions in a single statement. Mastering this N1-level grammar point will significantly enhance your formal Japanese communication skills, particularly in business or academic contexts.

For advanced Japanese learners preparing for the JLPT N1, understanding the subtle nuances of ～かたがた and being able to use it appropriately in formal contexts is essential. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided to fully incorporate this expression into your Japanese language repertoire.