“〜katagata”: While Also / On the Occasion Of 〜 (formal courtesy) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Doing one thing as the main purpose while also doing another (written etiquette)
“〜katagata”: While Also / On the Occasion Of 〜 (formal courtesy)
「noun ＋ かたがた」 means “with one thing as the main purpose, also doing another at the same time” — “while also 〜, taking the occasion of 〜.” E.g. 「お礼かたがたお伺いします」 (I'll visit, while also to thank you). It's a very formal, written expression, common in courteous settings like greetings, thanks, and reports, usually preceded by お礼・ご挨拶・ご報告.
🧠 Core nuance: two purposes in one trip — a main and a secondary
The core is a courteous two-birds-one-stone: while doing something (visiting, sending a letter), it serves two purposes — ostensibly A (a greeting) and also B (an errand). It's close in meaning to the colloquial ついでに (while at it), but far more formal and dignified, reserved for business letters and formal greetings. It precedes a noun (often a する-verb noun: 挨拶・報告・お礼).
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ かたがた | (する-type) noun ＋ かたがた | ご挨拶かたがた |
| 〜かたがた ＋ action | also do the following action | お礼かたがた伺う |
| Common | 挨拶・報告・お礼・お見舞い | ご報告かたがた |
💬 Example Sentences
- 先日のお礼かたがた、ご挨拶に伺いました。(I came to greet you, while also to thank you for the other day.) — thanks + greeting
- ご報告かたがた、メールを差し上げます。(I'm sending this email, while also to report to you.) — report + contact
- ご挨拶かたがた、近況をお知らせします。(While greeting you, I'll let you know my recent news.) — greeting + update
- お見舞いかたがた、お訪ねしました。(I visited, while also to see how you're recovering.) — visit + call
- 散歩かたがた、郵便局に寄った。(I stopped by the post office while taking a walk.) — a lighter combined errand
🔄 Compare: かたがた vs ついでに vs がてら vs を兼ねて
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜かたがた | “while also 〜” (formal, written, courtesy) | お礼かたがた伺う |
| 〜ついでに | “while at it” (colloquial, general) | 買い物のついでに |
| 〜がてら | “while also” (colloquial, with an action) | 散歩がてら寄る |
| 〜を兼ねて | “serving also as 〜 (two purposes)” | 運動を兼ねて歩く |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Attaching a verb: ✗ 報告するかたがた → ✓ 報告かたがた (noun ＋ かたがた).
- Particle/て-form: ✗ 報告をかたがた／報告してかたがた → a noun attaches directly.
- Using it casually: かたがた is too formal; casual chat uses ついでに・がてら.
- Preceding it with a non-courtesy noun: it mostly takes courtesy nouns like 挨拶・お礼・報告.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
かたがた is an advanced expression for business letters and formal greetings: doing B (visiting, contacting) while also serving A (thanks, a report, a greeting). Very formal and dignified, common as お礼かたがた・ご挨拶かたがた・ご報告かたがた. For a casual “while at it,” use ついでに・がてら. It lends formal letters and greetings a polished courtesy. A must at N1 (common in business).
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: (courtesy) noun ＋ かたがた = while also, on the occasion of 〜.
- Register: formal written; preceded by nouns like 挨拶・お礼・報告.
- Distinction: かたがた (formal) vs ついでに/がてら (colloquial).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「ご挨拶___、伺いました。」（順便問候，正式）
(A) かたがた (B) どころか (C) ばかりに (D) ながらも
Q2. 「かたがた」の前に来るのは?
(A) 名詞
(B) 動詞て形
(C) い形容詞
(D) 疑問詞
Q3. 「お礼かたがた伺う」の意味は?
(A) 為答謝，順便(前去)拜訪
(B) 拒絕答謝
(C) 忘記答謝
(D) 只是路過
Q4. 「かたがた」の文體は?
(A) 正式書面（常用於問候、致謝）
(B) 親密口語
(C) 兒童語
(D) 命令語
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 報告かたがたメールします。 (B) 報告するかたがた(名詞が基本)。
(C) 報告してかたがた。 (D) 報告をかたがた。
答案解析
1. (A) かたがた ── 順便問候(正式)。
2. (A) 名詞 ── 名詞＋かたがた。
3. (A) ── 為答謝順便拜訪。
4. (A) ── 正式書面。
5. (A) ── 「報告かたがた」(名詞)正確。