“〜katawara”: While (also doing) 〜 (a long-term parallel pursuit) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「仕事のかたわら小説を書いている」 — doing another thing in parallel alongside one's main work or life.
“〜katawara”: While (also doing) 〜 (a long-term parallel pursuit)
「(verb dict. form/noun の) ＋ かたわら」 means “while (engaged in one's main work) 〜, also (long-term) doing another thing in parallel” — alongside one's main work or life, long-term and continuously doing another sideline/activity. E.g. 「彼は会社員のかたわら、小説を書いている」 (he's an office worker who also (long-term) writes novels), 「教師のかたわら、作家としても活動している」 (alongside being a teacher, also active as a writer), 「研究するかたわら、後進の指導にあたる」 (while doing research, also mentors juniors). It stresses a main pursuit ＋ a long-term parallel sideline. ⚠️ Noun connection uses 「noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら」 (会社員のかたわら).
🧠 Core nuance: have a main pursuit, long-term doing another thing in parallel
The core is alongside one's main work/life, long-term doing another thing in parallel: having one main occupation or role (office worker, teacher, researcher), and alongside it long-term, continuously doing another sideline or activity (writing novels, being a writer, mentoring juniors). It stresses a long-term main ＋ side parallel (the main pursuit ＋ another thing done alongside). ⚠️ Contrast with 「ながら」: 「かたわら」 = a long-term parallel pursuit alongside one's main work (long-term, with main/side distinction: 会社員のかたわら小説を書く); 「ながら」 = doing two actions at once right now (short-term, simultaneous: 音楽を聞きながら勉強)! かたわら is a long-term ‘main ＋ side,' ながら is a present ‘two simultaneous actions' — entirely different time scales. ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋ かたわら; noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら (会社員のかたわら). A written, somewhat formal expression.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb dict. form ＋ かたわら | while (engaged in 〜) | 研究するかたわら |
| noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら | alongside (〜) | 会社員のかたわら |
| (main) ＋ かたわら ＋ (side) | main ＋ long-term parallel side | 教師のかたわら作家 |
💬 Example Sentences
- 彼は会社員のかたわら、趣味で小説を書いている。(He's an office worker who also writes novels as a hobby.) — main ＋ side
- 彼女は教師のかたわら、ボランティア活動も続けている。(Alongside being a teacher, she also keeps up volunteer work.) — parallel
- 大学で研究するかたわら、後進の指導にもあたっている。(While doing research at the university, he also mentors juniors.) — verb dict. form
- 農業のかたわら、民宿を経営している。(Alongside farming, they run a guesthouse.) — parallel sideline
- 彼は本業のかたわら、地域の活動に積極的に参加している。(Alongside his main job, he actively takes part in local activities.) — main ＋ side
🔄 Compare: かたわら vs ながら vs がてら vs とともに
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜かたわら | “alongside one's main work, long-term doing another” (long-term, main/side) | 会社員のかたわら小説 |
| 〜ながら | “while 〜ing” (two simultaneous actions now, short-term) | 音楽を聞きながら勉強 |
| 〜がてら | “while at it 〜” (doing one thing, taking the chance for another) | 散歩がてら買い物 |
| 〜とともに | “together with / as 〜” | 成長とともに |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Confusing with ながら: かたわら = a long-term parallel pursuit alongside one's main work (main/side, long-term); ながら = two simultaneous actions now (short-term) — entirely different time scales!
- Nouns take の: noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら (会社員のかたわら, ✗ 会社員かたわら).
- Long-term main/side: かたわら refers to a long-term ‘main pursuit ＋ parallel sideline,' not present simultaneous actions.
- Connection: verb dict. form ＋ かたわら; noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
かたわら means “while (engaged in one's main work) 〜, also long-term doing another thing in parallel,” alongside one's main work or life, long-term and continuously doing another sideline/activity (write novels alongside office work, be a writer alongside teaching). It stresses a main pursuit ＋ a long-term parallel sideline. ⚠️ Entirely different time scale from the ‘two simultaneous actions now' ながら — かたわら is long-term, ながら is present. Also distinguish from the ‘while at it' がてら. Nouns take の. Written, somewhat formal. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: verb dict. form/noun の ＋ かたわら = alongside 〜 (main work), long-term doing another in parallel (main ＋ side).
- Core distinction: かたわら (a long-term parallel pursuit alongside main work, long-term) vs ながら (two simultaneous actions now, short-term) — different time scales!
- Connection: noun ＋ の ＋ かたわら; verb dict. form ＋ かたわら; written use.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「彼は教師___、作家としても活動している。」（教師之餘也是作家）
(A) のかたわら (B) がてら (C) どころか (D) ばかりに
Q2. 「かたわら」と「ながら」の違いは?
(A) かたわら＝本業之餘(長期);ながら＝當下同時的兩動作
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) かたわら＝當下同時
(D) ながら＝長期副業
Q3. 「会社員のかたわら小説を書く」の意味は?
(A) 是上班族，同時(長期)也寫小說
(B) 辭職去寫小說
(C) 不寫小說
(D) 邊上班邊當場寫
Q4. 名詞に接続するとき?
(A) 名詞＋の＋かたわら
(B) 名詞＋かたわら
(C) 名詞＋だかたわら
(D) 名詞＋をかたわら
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 研究するかたわら教鞭をとる。 (B) 研究したかたわら。
(C) 研究してかたわら。 (D) 研究かたわら(名詞は の)。
答案解析
1. (A) のかたわら ── 教師之餘也是作家。
2. (A) ── かたわら 長期本業之餘;ながら 當下同時。
3. (A) ── 上班族同時長期寫小說。
4. (A) ── 名詞＋の＋かたわら。
5. (A) ── 動詞辭書形＋かたわら(研究する＋)正確。