〜がてら (~gatera) — while out doing ~, also …
Going out for a walk or an errand and getting a second thing done on the same trip — two birds, one stone.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- It's Sunday evening, you're bored in your room, and you tell your roommate: 「散歩がてら、コンビニに寄ってくるね」— 'I'm going for a little walk, and I'll drop into the convenience store on the way.'
- It works in both conversation and ordinary letters.
Meaning
- 「〜がてら」= while doing one thing (usually walking, going out, taking someone somewhere), you use the chance to get a second thing done too.
- The first activity (散歩) is a purpose in itself, and the second gets done along the way.
How to attach
- A する-noun without 「する」: 散歩がてら・買い物がてら
- A verb's ます-stem without 「ます」: 送りがてら・見がてら
- What follows is usually a verb of going: 行く・寄る・歩く・来る.
Versus what you know
N3It is very close to 「〜ついでに」, but with 「ついでに」there is one main task and the other is a small add-on.
Watch out
It is not used for two things done sitting in one place at the same moment — 「テレビを見がてら勉強する」is wrong; say 「ながら」there.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
散歩がてら、駅前のパン屋で明日の朝ごはんを買ってきた。
さんぽがてら、えきまえのパンやであしたのあさごはんをかってきた。
While out for a walk, I picked up tomorrow's breakfast at the bakery by the station.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 散歩する = to go for a walk → drop 「する」: 散歩 → attach 「がてら」 → then another thing done on the way: パン屋で…買ってきた (bought it at the bakery and brought it home).
子どもを保育園に送りがてら、郵便局で荷物を出してきた。
こどもをほいくえんにおくりがてら、ゆうびんきょくでにもつをだしてきた。
When I took my child to daycare, I sent a parcel from the post office on the way.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 送る = to take (someone somewhere) → drop 「ます」 from the ます-form 送ります: 送り → 「がてら」 → then something done on the same trip: 郵便局で荷物を出してきた.
運動がてら、会社までひと駅分歩くことにしている。
うんどうがてら、かいしゃまでひとえきぶんあるくことにしている。
I make a habit of walking one station's distance to the office, which doubles as exercise.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 運動する = to exercise → drop 「する」: 運動 → 「がてら」 → then the walking: ひと駅分歩く — the walk gives exercise and also gets me to the office.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「＿＿＿、ポストに手紙を出してきます。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: What do you drop from a する-noun?
N + がてら — no 「する」and no 「の」. 散歩がてら = while out for a walk.
In which sentence is 「がてら」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Did anyone go anywhere, or stay in one spot?
がてら goes with going somewhere; for two things done sitting at once, say 「テレビを見ながら」.
What is the difference between 「がてら」and 「ながら」?
💡 Hint: What kind of verb follows がてら?
がてら = two jobs on one outing (行く・寄る follow). ながら = two actions at the same moment.
Your score: /3