“to tomo ni” Meaning & Usage — Together with / As / Along with [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“Together with family,” “as one grows” — the three senses of とともに, with examples. (JLPT N3)

「家族とともに歩む」「時代とともに変わる」 — one とともに, three flavors

「家族とともに歩む」 (walk together with family), 「時代とともに価値観が変わる」 (values change with the times) — the same 「とともに」, the first “together with ～,” the second “as ～ changes.” This written-leaning N3 regular has three flavors: togetherness, accompaniment, parallelism. This guide covers 「とともに」's uses and attachment at once, separating it from the proportional 「につれて」 and the colloquial 「と一緒に」.

Core: とともに's three flavors (together / as / both-and)

「(noun／verb dictionary form) ＋ とともに」 has three common uses:

• ① together with ～ (jointly): 仲間とともに、目標に向かう (head for the goal together with comrades).
• ② as ～ (changing at the same time): 年をとるとともに、体力が落ちた (as I aged, my stamina declined).
• ③ both … and at the same time … (parallelism): 責任者であるとともに、一人の親でもある (a person in charge, and at the same time a parent).

Feel: “together with ～／as ～／both … and …” — the core is “A and B simultaneously, coexisting, or linked.” ① doing something jointly, ② B changes as A changes, ③ having two roles/facets. It's a more written expression.

Attachment & the three uses compared

See it in context

• 彼は仲間とともに、新しい会社を立ち上げた。(He founded a new company together with his comrades.) — togetherness
• 経済の発展とともに、環境問題も深刻化した。(As the economy developed, environmental problems worsened too.) — as-change
• 技術が進歩するとともに、生活は便利になった。(As technology advanced, life became convenient.) — as-change
• 卒業は喜びであるとともに、少し寂しくもある。(Graduation is a joy and at the same time a little lonely.) — parallel
• 新年を家族とともに迎えた。(We greeted the new year together with family.) — togetherness

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① For change, 「とともに」 leans ‘a simultaneous concurrent change,' 「につれて」 leans ‘a proportional linkage.' Both render as “as,” with a slightly different feel. とともに = as A (changes), B also changes/occurs (at the same time) (broader, can mean concurrent); につれて = as A gradually progresses, B changes proportionally in step (stressing “the more A, the more B”). 時代が変わるとともに言葉も変わる (as the times change, language changes too — concurrent) vs 年をとるにつれて、体が弱くなる (as one ages, the body grows weaker — proportional linkage). To stress “proportionally more … more …” use につれて; for a plain “as, at the same time” use とともに. (につれて: see 〈につれて〉.)

② 「とともに」 is more written; colloquial ‘together' uses 「と一緒に」. For “together with ～,” 「とともに」 leans written, formal (家族とともに歩む, elegant); everyday “together” is usually 「と一緒に」 (家族と一緒に旅行する = travel with family). In writing or speeches とともに sounds dignified; in chat と一緒に is more natural.

③ The parallel use (③) usually takes 「である／dictionary form」 in front. For “both … and (having both at once),” a noun in front takes 「である」 ＋ とともに (教師であるとともに、親でもある = both a teacher and a parent); verbs use the dictionary form (尊敬されるとともに、恐れられている = respected and at the same time feared). This parallel use is more formal — don't drop the 「である」.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: とともに／につれて／と一緒に／にしたがって

💡 The key point in use

「〜とともに」 is a more written expression with three flavors: ① together with ～ (jointly) (家族とともに歩む); ② as ～ (changing at the same time) (時代とともに変わる); ③ both … and … (two roles/facets in parallel) (喜びであるとともに寂しい). Three points: ① for change, division of labor with 「につれて」 — とともに leans “concurrent,” につれて leans “proportional linkage (the more … the more …)”; ② for “together,” written とともに, colloquial 「と一緒に」; ③ the parallel use usually takes 「である／dictionary form」 in front (教師であるとともに). Grasp the core “A and B simultaneously, coexisting, or linked,” then sort “together/as/parallel” by context, and this set is solid.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: For ‘as,' how do I tell 「とともに」 from 「につれて」?

Both render as “as,” differing in whether they stress a ‘proportional linkage.' 「〜とともに」 = as A (changes), B also changes/occurs (at the same time) (broader, meaning ‘concurrent, changing together,' not stressing proportion): 経済成長とともに、人々の生活も豊かになった (as the economy grew, people's lives grew richer too — A changes, B changes at the same time, in parallel). It just says “A's change accompanies B's change, simultaneously.” 「〜につれて」 = as A gradually progresses, B changes proportionally in step (stressing ‘the more A, the more B,' a corresponding degree): 山を登るにつれて、気温が下がっていく (as you climb, the temperature gradually drops — the higher, the colder, in proportion). It stresses the gradual, proportional relation “as A advances bit by bit, B follows bit by bit.” Test: just “A changes, B changes at the same time” (parallel) → とともに works; specifically stressing “the more A, the more B (proportional)” gradual linkage → につれて is more precise. Many sentences take both (技術の進歩とともに／につれて); but to highlight a “step-by-step, proportional” linkage use 「につれて」; for a plain “accompanying, simultaneous” use 「とともに」, which is also more versatile (it can mean “together, parallel” too). (につれて's proportional linkage: see 〈につれて〉.)

Q: 「とともに」 and 「と一緒に」 both mean ‘together with ～' — interchangeable?

For “together with ～ (doing something jointly)” they're often interchangeable, differing in register (written vs colloquial), and 「とともに」 is more versatile. 「と一緒に」 = together with ～ (colloquial, everyday, only ‘jointly'): 友達と一緒に映画を見た (watched a movie with a friend); 家族と一緒に住んでいる (living with family). Natural, colloquial, a plain “together.” 「とともに」 = together with ～ (written, formal)／also ‘as, parallel': for a formal, elegant “together” use it (社員一同とともに、心よりお祝い申し上げます = together with all our staff, we offer heartfelt congratulations — a speech tone). Difference: daily conversation, casual settings → 「と一緒に」; formal writing, speeches, dignified tone → 「とともに」. Also note that beyond “together,” 「とともに」 can mean “as (change)” and “both … and (parallel),” which 「と一緒に」 cannot — 「時代とともに変わる」 (change with the times) can't be 「時代と一緒に変わる」. So: a plain colloquial “together” → と一緒に; a formal “together,” or “as/parallel” → とともに.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「彼は仲間___、プロジェクトを成功させた。」(together with comrades — joint)

(A) について　(B) とともに　(C) によって　(D) に対して

Q2. 「技術が進歩する___、新しい問題も出てくる。」(as technology advances — simultaneous change)

(A) とともに　(B) からには　(C) ばかりに　(D) どころか

Q3. Which is NOT a meaning of 「〜とともに」?

(A) 〜と一緒に (joint)　(B) 〜につれて (simultaneous change)　(C) 〜の代わりに (instead of)　(D) 〜と同時に

Q4. 「経済の発展___、環境問題が深刻化している。」(as the economy develops)

(A) に反して　(B) を込めて　(C) とともに　(D) はもとより

Q5. 「彼女は涙___、感謝の言葉を述べた。」(accompanied by tears)

(A) とともに　(B) において　(C) によって　(D) について

Answer Key

1. (B) とともに ── 仲間とともに = together with comrades (joint action).

2. (A) とともに ── as technology advances, new problems also emerge (simultaneous/linked change).

3. (C) 〜の代わりに ── ‘instead of' is NOT a meaning of とともに (joint/accompanying/as are).

4. (C) とともに ── 発展とともに = as the economy develops (linked change).

5. (A) とともに ── 涙とともに = accompanied by tears.