GRAMMAR DETAIL
かたわら
Indicates pursuing another activity over an extended period while continuing one's main activity.
Examples
大学で教えるかたわら、地域の劇団でも活動している。
While teaching at a university, he is also active in a local theater company.
Words used
会社で働くかたわら、週末は農業を学ぶ。
While working for a company, I also study farming on weekends.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
かたわらto a dictionary-form verb naming a main activity to describe pursuing another activity alongside it over an extended period. - Basic usage:
会社で働くかたわら、週末は農業を学ぶ。means combining work at a company with studying farming on weekends.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- の after a noun
働くかたわらconnects directly to a verb, while仕事のかたわらputsのafter a noun. Both distinguish the main activity from the parallel one.
- Time span compared with ながら
音楽を聞きながら勉強するdescribes two actions occurring at the same time.働くかたわら学ぶfocuses on combining work and study as activities in one's life.