Japanese word

ながら

Pronunciation

Romajinagara

Meaning

  • particlewhile

Example

ご飯を食べながらテレビを見ます。go han o ta be na ga ra te re bi o mi ma su

I watch TV while eating.

Illustration for ながら (while)

More examples

歩きながら話します。aru ki na ga ra hana shi ma su

I talk while walking.

母は料理をしながら歌います。haha wa ryō ri o shi na ga ra uta i ma su

My mother sings while cooking.

Core concept

It marks one action or state as continuing while another occurs, and extends this link to a contrast meaning "although".

Common phrases

  • 音楽を聞きながら勉強するon gaku o ki ki na ga ra ben kyō su ru

    study while listening to music

  • 歩きながら話すaru ki na ga ra hana su

    talk while walking

Similar words

ながらもnagaramo: It marks a contrast after an acknowledged condition.

Definition in Japanese

一つの動作を続ける間に別の動作をすることを表す。また、ある事実を認めたうえで、それに反する内容を述べることを表す。hito tsu no dō sa o tsuzu ke ru aida ni betsu no dō sa o su ru ko to o arawa su ma ta a ru ji jitsu o mito me ta u e de so re ni han su ru nai yō o no be ru ko to o arawa su

Word origin

The native form ながら (nagara) is built from なが (naga), the stem of 長い (nagai, "long"), plus the old element ら (ra), so a sense of duration extends to "while" and "although".

Usage tips

  • The pattern ながらも (nagaramo) marks a contrast after an acknowledged condition, while ながら (nagara) alone often marks simultaneous actions.

Other meanings

  • althoughparticle

Word lists with this word