Japanese N1 Grammar: Understanding ～ながらに（して）

April 26, 2025 | Japanese Language Expert | JLPT N1 Grammar

What is ～ながらに（して）?

The grammar pattern ～ながらに（して） is an advanced Japanese expression typically found in formal writing, literary works, and academic contexts. This N1-level grammar carries a nuanced meaning that can be challenging for Japanese learners to master.

Basic Meaning and Usage

～ながらに（して） is used to express that an action or state occurs while maintaining or preserving another condition. It conveys the sense of “while being in a state of,” “with,” or “despite being.” This grammar pattern often indicates that two seemingly contradictory or unusual combinations of states or actions are occurring simultaneously.

Formation

This grammar pattern can be formed in several ways:

1. Noun + ながらに（して） – When using a noun, it directly attaches to form the state being maintained
2. Verb stem (連用形) + ながらに（して） – For verbs, use the masu-form without the ます
3. Na-adjective stem + ながらに（して） – Remove な and attach directly

The （して） part is optional and is often omitted in modern Japanese, though including it can add a more literary or formal tone. When して is included, the expression becomes more emphatic and classical in feeling.

Detailed Examples with Explanations

With Nouns:

Example 1: 彼は学生ながらに一流の研究を発表した。
Kare wa gakusei nagara ni ichiryū no kenkyū o happyō shita.
Translation: He published first-rate research while (still) being a student.

Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the contrast between being a student (typically inexperienced) and producing high-quality research. The ながらに highlights this unusual combination.

Example 2: 彼女は新人ながらに堂々と意見を述べた。
Kanojo wa shinjin nagara ni dōdō to iken o nobeta.
Translation: Despite being a newcomer, she confidently expressed her opinion.

Explanation: Here, ながらに connects the state of being a newcomer with the unexpected confidence in expressing opinions, highlighting the contrast.

Example 3: 彼は外国人ながらに日本の文化を深く理解していた。
Kare wa gaikokujin nagara ni Nihon no bunka o fukaku rikai shite ita.
Translation: Despite being a foreigner, he had a deep understanding of Japanese culture.

Explanation: The grammar highlights the contrast between not being Japanese and still having profound cultural understanding.

With Verbs:

Example 4: 彼女は泣きながらに笑った。
Kanojo wa naki nagara ni waratta.
Translation: She laughed while crying.

Explanation: This shows two contradictory emotional states occurring simultaneously. The verb 泣く (to cry) is converted to its stem form 泣き before adding ながらに.

Example 5: 彼は怒りながらにして冷静な判断をした。
Kare wa okori nagara ni shite reisei na handan o shita.
Translation: While being angry, he made a calm judgment.

Explanation: Notice the use of して in this example, which adds a more formal and literary tone. The sentence demonstrates maintaining composure despite anger.

Example 6: 彼女は迷いながらにも前に進んだ。
Kanojo wa mayoi nagara ni mo mae ni susunda.
Translation: Even while hesitating, she moved forward.

Explanation: The addition of も (also/even) emphasizes the contrast between hesitation and forward movement. This is a common variation of this grammar pattern.

With Na-adjectives:

Example 7: 彼は不安ながらに挑戦することを決めた。
Kare wa fuan nagara ni chōsen suru koto o kimeta.
Translation: Though anxious, he decided to take on the challenge.

Explanation: The na-adjective 不安な has the な removed before attaching ながらに.

Example 8: 彼女は優雅ながらに力強い演技を見せた。
Kanojo wa yūga nagara ni chikaradzuyoi engi o miseta.
Translation: She showed a powerful performance while maintaining elegance.

Explanation: The sentence highlights the simultaneous presence of seemingly opposing qualities: elegance and power.

Common Patterns and Special Uses

1. Adding も for Emphasis

彼は若年ながらにも責任ある地位についている。
Kare wa jakunen nagara ni mo sekinin aru chii ni tsuite iru.
Translation: Despite his young age, he holds a position of responsibility.

Explanation: Adding も after ながらに emphasizes the exceptional or unexpected nature of the situation.

2. Using として with ながら

教師としてながらに、彼は常に学び続けている。
Kyōshi to shite nagara ni, kare wa tsuneni manabi tsudzukete iru.
Translation: While being a teacher, he continues to learn himself.

Explanation: This construction combines としての role marker with ながらに for additional emphasis on the role.

3. Historical or Traditional Contexts

この寺院は何世紀もの間、伝統ながらに現代の要素を取り入れてきた。
Kono jiin wa nan seiki mo no aida, dentō nagara ni gendai no yōso o toriirerete kita.
Translation: For centuries, this temple has incorporated modern elements while maintaining tradition.

Explanation: This use highlights the preservation of core identity while adapting to change.

Comparing ～ながらに with Similar Grammar

Extensive Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete these sentences using the correct form of ～ながらに（して）:

1. 彼は初心者___________(である)優れた演奏をした。
2. 彼女は疲れ___________(疲れる)笑顔を見せた。
3. 老人___________(老人)若々しいエネルギーを持っている。
4. 悲しみ___________(悲しむ)彼は前向きな態度を保った。
5. 彼女は忙しい___________(忙しい)時間を作ってくれた。

See Answers

1. 彼は初心者ながらに優れた演奏をした。(Though a beginner, he gave an excellent performance.)
2. 彼女は疲れながらに笑顔を見せた。(Despite being tired, she showed a smile.)
3. 老人ながらに若々しいエネルギーを持っている。(Despite being elderly, he has youthful energy.)
4. 悲しみながらに彼は前向きな態度を保った。(While feeling sad, he maintained a positive attitude.)
5. 彼女は忙しいながらに時間を作ってくれた。(Although busy, she made time for me.)

Exercise 2: Translation Practice

Translate the following English sentences into Japanese using ～ながらに（して）:

1. Despite being a child, she shows remarkable wisdom.
2. He speaks clearly while being nervous.
3. The company preserved its traditions while adopting new technologies.
4. With tears in her eyes, she congratulated her rival.
5. Though inexperienced, he handled the situation skillfully.

See Sample Answers

1. 彼女は子供ながらに驚くべき知恵を見せる。
2. 彼は緊張しながらにはっきりと話す。
3. その会社は伝統ながらに新しい技術を取り入れた。
4. 彼女は涙ながらにライバルを祝福した。
5. 彼は未経験ながらにその状況を巧みに処理した。

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Find and correct the errors in these sentences using ～ながらに（して）:

1. 彼は学生ながら一流の研究を発表した。
2. 彼女は笑顔でながらに厳しい批判をした。
3. 老人はながらに若々しく見える。
4. 彼は怒りながらでした冷静な判断をした。
5. 彼女は心配ながらでも前進した。

See Corrected Sentences

1. 彼は学生ながらに一流の研究を発表した。 (missing に)
2. 彼女は笑顔ながらに厳しい批判をした。 (incorrect particle)
3. 老人ながらに若々しく見える。 (incorrect order)
4. 彼は怒りながらにして冷静な判断をした。 (incorrect formation)
5. 彼女は心配ながらにも前進した。 (incorrect particle)

Exercise 4: Context Completion

Complete these paragraphs by filling in appropriate expressions with ～ながらに（して）:

山田さんは、今年60歳になりましたが、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿マラソンに参加しています。彼は若い人たちと一緒に走り、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿全力を尽くします。

新入社員の鈴木さんは、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿重要なプロジェクトを任されました。彼女は＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿素晴らしい結果を出しました。

See Possible Answers

山田さんは、今年60歳になりましたが、高齢ながらにマラソンに参加しています。彼は若い人たちと一緒に走り、息切れしながらにも全力を尽くします。

新入社員の鈴木さんは、経験不足ながらに重要なプロジェクトを任されました。彼女は不安ながらに素晴らしい結果を出しました。

Exercise 5: Using ～ながらに（して） in Various Contexts

Create sentences using ～ながらに（して） for each of these contexts:

1. A sports context (an underdog winning)
2. A business situation (a young CEO)
3. An emotional situation (mixed feelings)
4. A cultural context (tradition and innovation)
5. An educational context (learning despite challenges)

See Sample Answers

1. その小さなチームは人数不足ながらに優勝を果たした。(Despite being short on members, the small team achieved victory.)
2. 彼は若年ながらにして大企業のCEOとして重責を担っている。(Despite his young age, he bears the heavy responsibility of being CEO of a large company.)
3. 彼女は悲しみながらに結婚式で祝福の言葉を述べた。(While feeling sad, she offered words of congratulation at the wedding.)
4. この料理店は伝統ながらにモダンな味を追求している。(While preserving tradition, this restaurant pursues modern flavors.)
5. 彼は視覚障害ながらに世界中の文学を学んでいる。(Despite his visual impairment, he studies literature from around the world.)

Literary and Formal Uses

Example from Literature: 「彼女は、その悲劇を知りながらにして、微笑みを絶やさなかった。」
“Despite knowing about the tragedy, she never let her smile fade.”

Example from Essays: 「歴史は変化しながらに繰り返す。」
“History repeats itself while changing.”

Example from Formal Speech: 「彼は迷いながらにして確信を持って進んだ。」
“He proceeded with certainty while harboring doubts.”

Advanced Nuances

1. Dignified Perseverance

彼女は貧困ながらに誇りを持って生きた。
Kanojo wa hinkon nagara ni hokori o motte ikita.
Translation: She lived with dignity despite her poverty.

Explanation: This usage emphasizes maintaining one’s dignity or essence despite challenging circumstances.

2. Inherent Contradiction

彼は多忙ながらに静かな心を保っていた。
Kare wa tabō nagara ni shizuka na kokoro o tamotte ita.
Translation: Despite being busy, he maintained a quiet mind.

Explanation: This highlights the apparent contradiction between external circumstances and internal state.

3. Unexpected Capability

彼女は非専門家ながらに専門的な意見を述べた。
Kanojo wa hi-senmonka nagara ni senmon-teki na iken o nobeta.
Translation: Despite not being an expert, she offered expert opinions.

Explanation: This usage emphasizes someone exceeding expectations based on their status or position.

JLPT N1 Test Preparation Tips

1. Reading Context: This grammar often appears in reading passages rather than in isolated grammar questions. Practice identifying it in context.
2. Similar Expressions: Be able to distinguish between ～ながらに, ～ながら, and ～つつ based on context and nuance.
3. Common Variations: Pay attention to the variations with も (～ながらにも) and して (～ながらにして).
4. Literary Usage: Since this is often used in literary contexts, read Japanese literature, essays, and formal writing to become familiar with natural usage.
5. Practice Paraphrasing: Try rewriting sentences using ～ながらに（して） with other expressions like ～にもかかわらず or ～のに to understand the nuance better.

Conclusion

～ながらに（して） is a sophisticated grammar pattern that allows Japanese speakers to express the maintenance of one state or condition while performing another action, often with an emphasis on contrast or unexpected combinations. Mastering this grammar pattern will significantly enhance your formal and literary Japanese expression.

By understanding the subtle nuances between similar grammar patterns like ～ながら and ～つつ, you’ll be better equipped to comprehend advanced Japanese texts and express complex ideas in your own Japanese writing.

Continue practicing with the exercises provided, and try to incorporate this grammar pattern into your own Japanese writing for a more sophisticated expression. Remember that this pattern is particularly common in formal and literary contexts, so reading Japanese literature and formal writing will help you internalize its natural usage.

What other challenging N1 grammar points would you like to explore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!