〜かたがた / 〜かたわら

〜かたがた / 〜かたわら is a conjunction meaning while also / besides, used to connect clauses and express logical relationships between ideas. Japanese has a rich set of conjunctions that convey subtle differences in meaning — contrast, cause, concession, addition — and using them correctly makes your Japanese flow naturally.

This is a highly advanced pattern found mainly in literary works, formal speeches, legal documents, and academic writing. It is rarely used in casual conversation.

When to Use#

• When doing two things simultaneously for efficiency
• When an action serves a dual purpose

When NOT to Use#

• In casual conversation — this sounds literary or stiff; use a simpler expression

Example Sentences#

• お詫びかたがた、経緯を説明しに伺いました。 — I visited to apologize while also explaining the circumstances.
• お祝いかたがた、ご様子を伺いに参りました。 — I came to celebrate while also inquiring about their well-being.
• お悔やみかたがた、支援の申し出に伺いました。 — I visited to express condolences while also offering assistance.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Using 〜かたがた / 〜かたわら interchangeably with 〜一方で — These patterns are similar but not identical. 〜一方で (on the other hand / while) may be preferred in different contexts or registers.
2. Using 〜かたがた / 〜かたわら in casual conversation — This pattern sounds overly formal or literary in casual speech. Reserve it for formal writing, presentations, or situations that call for elevated language.
3. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜かたがた / 〜かたわら may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.

Related Patterns#

• 〜一方で (on the other hand / while) — Similar