Japanese Grammar: ～がてら (gatera) – Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Introduction

For Japanese language learners preparing for the JLPT N1 exam, mastering nuanced grammar patterns is essential. One such pattern is ～がてら (gatera), which elegantly combines two actions or purposes into a single expression. This blog post will explore the meaning, usage, and practical examples of ～がてら to help advanced learners incorporate this pattern into their Japanese language skills.

What is ～がてら?

～がてら (gatera) is a semi-formal expression used to indicate that someone performs an additional action while doing a main action. It can be translated as “while doing…” or “taking the opportunity to…” in English. This grammar pattern allows speakers to express that they are efficiently accomplishing two things at once, with one action being somewhat incidental to the main purpose.

Grammar Structure

The basic structure for using ～がてら is:

Noun + がてら + Verb/Sentence

Note: Unlike some other grammar patterns, ～がてら typically connects directly to nouns without particles.

Usage and Examples

Usage 1: Doing something while taking care of the main purpose

The most common use of ～がてら is to express doing something additional while accomplishing a primary task:

Examples:

• 散歩がてら買い物に行きました。
  (I went shopping while taking a walk.)
• 出張がてら観光もしました。
  (I did some sightseeing while on a business trip.)
• 挨拶がてらお土産を持ってきました。
  (I brought a souvenir while coming to greet you.)

Usage 2: Using an opportunity to accomplish something else

～がてら can also express taking advantage of an opportunity to accomplish something additional:

Examples:

• 東京出張がてら友人に会ってきました。
  (I met my friend while on a business trip to Tokyo.)
• 健康診断がてら病院の新しい施設を見学しました。
  (I toured the hospital’s new facilities while getting my health checkup.)
• 運動がてら犬の散歩をしています。
  (I walk my dog while getting some exercise.)

Nuances and Special Considerations

When using ～がてら, there are several important nuances to keep in mind:

• Relative Importance: The action before がてら is usually the main purpose, while the action after がてら is secondary or incidental.
• Intentionality: Both actions are intentional, unlike some other simultaneous action expressions that might indicate coincidence.
• Temporal Relationship: Both actions typically occur simultaneously or in close succession.
• Formality Level: がてら is more formal than casual expressions like ついでに but less formal than かたがた.

Comparison with Similar Expressions

～がてら vs. ～かたがた

While both express doing two actions simultaneously, there are key differences:

• Formality: ～かたがた is more formal than ～がてら and is often used in business or official situations.
• Usage context: ～かたがた is commonly used in formal written communication and polite speech, while ～がてら can be used in a wider range of semi-formal to formal contexts.
• Nuance: ～かたがた often implies that both actions have significant importance, while with ～がてら, the second action is typically more incidental.

～がてら vs. ～ついでに

These expressions are similar but differ in formality and nuance:

• Formality: ～がてら is more formal than ～ついでに, which is used in casual conversation.
• Usage: ～ついでに has a stronger nuance of convenience (“since I’m already doing X, I’ll also do Y”), while ～がてら suggests more intentional planning of both activities.

Important Notes (⚠️)

⚠️ ～がてら is typically used with nouns of Japanese origin (和語) rather than loanwords.

⚠️ The expression has a literary quality and is more common in written Japanese than in everyday casual speech.

⚠️ When using ～がてら, both actions should be logically connected or occurring in the same location/timeframe.

Practice Exercises

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

Complete each sentence with the appropriate form:

1. 休暇_______友人の家に立ち寄りました。
2. 食事_______ビジネスの話をしましょう。
3. 朝の運動_______公園のゴミを拾っています。
4. 帰省_______温泉に入りました。
5. 新年の挨拶_______お土産を持ってきました。

Exercise 2: Choose the Appropriate Expression (選択問題)

Select the most appropriate expression (がてら, かたがた, ついでに, or ながら) for each situation:

1. 部長に報告書を提出する（　　）新しいプロジェクトの相談もしました。
   a) がてら　b) かたがた　c) ついでに　d) ながら
2. スーパーで買い物をした（　　）友達の家に立ち寄りました。
   a) がてら　b) かたがた　c) ついでに　d) ながら
3. 皇族の方が被災地を訪問された（　　）お見舞いの言葉をかけられました。
   a) がてら　b) かたがた　c) ついでに　d) ながら
4. 音楽を聴く（　　）宿題をしています。
   a) がてら　b) かたがた　c) ついでに　d) ながら

Exercise 3: Translation (翻訳問題)

Translate these sentences into Japanese using がてら:

1. I visited the museum while sightseeing in Kyoto.
2. She brought a gift while visiting her friend in the hospital.
3. I’ll check the mail while taking a walk.
4. He went to see his grandmother while on a business trip to Osaka.
5. I practiced my Japanese while watching a movie.

Answers to Exercises

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. 休暇がてら友人の家に立ち寄りました。(I stopped by my friend’s house while on vacation.)
2. 食事がてらビジネスの話をしましょう。(Let’s discuss business while having a meal.)
3. 朝の運動がてら公園のゴミを拾っています。(I pick up trash in the park while exercising in the morning.)
4. 帰省がてら温泉に入りました。(I visited a hot spring while returning to my hometown.)
5. 新年の挨拶がてらお土産を持ってきました。(I brought a souvenir while coming to give New Year’s greetings.)

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. a) がてら (I consulted about the new project while submitting the report to the department head.)
2. c) ついでに (I stopped by my friend’s house while shopping at the supermarket.) – This is more casual, so ついでに is more appropriate than がてら.
3. b) かたがた (The imperial family member visited the disaster area and offered words of sympathy.) – Very formal situation requires かたがた.
4. d) ながら (I’m doing homework while listening to music.) – Simple simultaneous actions use ながら.

Exercise 3 Answers:

1. 京都観光がてら美術館を訪れました。
2. 彼女は友達のお見舞いがてらプレゼントを持ってきました。
3. 散歩がてら郵便物をチェックします。
4. 彼は大阪出張がてら祖母に会いに行きました。
5. 映画鑑賞がてら日本語を練習しました。

Real-Life Usage Examples

To help you understand how ～がてら is used in authentic contexts, here are some examples from various situations:

Business Context

• 取引先訪問がてら市場調査も行いました。
  (I conducted market research while visiting our business partner.)
• 会議がてら新製品のアイデアについて話し合いました。
  (We discussed ideas for new products while in the meeting.)

Daily Life

• 朝の通勤がてらコーヒーを買います。
  (I buy coffee while commuting in the morning.)
• 図書館で勉強がてら次の試験の参考書も探しました。
  (I also looked for reference books for the next exam while studying at the library.)

Travel Context

• 東京旅行がてら大学時代の友人に会いました。
  (I met my college friend while traveling to Tokyo.)
• 紅葉狩りがてら温泉にも入りました。
  (I also enjoyed a hot spring while viewing the autumn leaves.)

Conclusion

The grammar pattern ～がてら is a versatile and elegant expression that allows speakers to combine two activities or purposes smoothly. With its semi-formal tone, it occupies a useful middle ground between casual expressions like ついでに and very formal patterns like かたがた.

For JLPT N1 test-takers, understanding the nuances of ～がてら and knowing when to use it appropriately can help demonstrate advanced proficiency in Japanese. Remember that this pattern is not just about expressing simultaneous actions, but about showing intentionality and efficiency in combining multiple purposes.

As you continue your Japanese language journey, try incorporating ～がてら into your writing and formal conversations. With practice, this pattern will become a natural part of your Japanese expression, helping you communicate more elegantly and efficiently.