How to Say “While doing …” in Japanese | 〜ながら (…nagara) | JLPT N4 Grammar

2025/11/08

In Japanese, ～ながら shows that two actions happen at the same time.

It’s often used to describe multitasking, like “listening to music while studying” or “talking while walking.”

The first action (before ～ながら) happens in the background, and the second action is the main one.

When and How It’s Used

The pattern ～ながら is used when one person performs two actions simultaneously.
Both actions share the same subject.

The verb that comes before ながら expresses the background action, while the following verb indicates the main action.

For example:

テレビを見ながら晩ごはんを食べます。　Terebi o minagara bangohan o tabemasu.
(I watch TV while eating dinner.)

Here, “watching TV” is the background action, and “eating” is the main action.

It’s important to note that the first verb must be in the ます-stem form (the base form before ます).
For instance, from the verb たべます, you use たべ＋ながら → たべながら.

This expression is mainly used for physical or habitual actions that can actually happen at the same time.
It’s not suitable for two actions that logically cannot occur together (for example, “sleep while running” would be unnatural).

See How It’s Used in Conversation

This video will help you understand how ～ながら is used in everyday Japanese conversations. Watch and repeat to improve your listening and speaking skills!

Sentence Pattern

Verb (ます-stem)＋ながら、main verb

• Same subject for both actions.
  
• The first verb = background action
  
• The second verb = main action
  

Examples of form:

• たべます → たべながら
• あるきます → あるきながら
• はなします → はなしながら

This pattern can also appear in longer sentences or polite expressions:

音楽をききながら勉強しています。　Ongaku o kikinagara benkyou siteimasu.
(I’m studying while listening to music.)

Examples

音楽を聞きながら日本語を勉強します。
ongaku o kikinagara Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.
I study Japanese while listening to music.
→ “Studying” is the main action, and “listening to music” happens at the same time.

携帯を見ながら料理を作ります。
Keitai o minagara ryouri o tukurimasu.
I make dishes while watching cell phone.
→ Describes two everyday actions that occur simultaneously.

歩きながら話しましょう。
Arukinagara hanashimashō.
Let’s talk while walking.
→ A natural suggestion using “ながら” to describe doing two things together.

仕事をしながら大学で勉強しています。
Shigoto o shinagara daigaku de benkyō shiteimasu.
I study at university while working.
→ Expresses doing two ongoing actions in one’s lifestyle.

In Summary

～ながら connects two actions with the same subject to show they happen at the same time.

Use the ます-stem before ながら, and make sure both actions are compatible.

The action before ～ながら is the background, and the second verb is the main focus.

This pattern is natural in daily conversation and helps you sound more fluent and expressive in Japanese.

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