Explanation
〜ながら = "while doing X, do Y". Form: masu-stem + ながら. The main action is the second clause.
Usage: Shows two actions by the same person at the same time. The main action comes in the second clause. Formation: masu-stem + ながら.
Formation: Take the ます stem of a verb and add ながら: 食べます becomes 食べながら, 聞きます becomes 聞きながら.
Usage & nuance: 〜ながら means while doing, describing two actions done at the same time by the same subject. The main action is the one in the second clause, and the ながら clause is the background activity, as in 音楽を聞きながら勉強します, where studying is primary. Both verbs must share the same subject.
Compare: 〜ながら vs 〜て. 〜て chains actions one after another (食べて寝る), while 〜ながら overlaps them in time. Also note 〜ながらも, which means although and pairs with a contrasting clause.
हिंदी में समझें
〜ながら = "X करते हुए Y करना"। रूप: ます-stem + ながら। मुख्य क्रिया दूसरे वाक्यांश में होती है।
Examples
- おんがくをききながら、べんきょうします。 (Ongaku o kikinagara, benkyou shimasu.)
हिंदी: संगीत सुनते हुए पढ़ता हूँ।
English: I study while listening to music. - あるきながら、でんわをします。 (Arukinagara, denwa o shimasu.)
हिंदी: चलते हुए फ़ोन करता हूँ।
English: I talk on the phone while walking. - テレビをみながら、しょくじをします。 (Terebi o minagara, shokuji o shimasu.)
हिंदी: टीवी देखते हुए खाना खाता हूँ।
English: I eat while watching TV. - 音楽を聞きながら、勉強します。 (Ongaku o kikinagara, benkyō shimasu.)
हिंदी: संगीत सुनते हुए पढ़ता हूँ।
English: I study while listening to music. - 歩きながら話しましょう。 (Arukinagara hanashimashō.)
हिंदी: चलते-चलते बात करें।
English: Let us talk while walking.
Common mistakes
- きくながら → ききながら — Use masu-stem (きき) not dictionary form.
Practice this topic
Test your understanding with 2 questions on 〜ながら — While doing.