〜とともに

〜とともに is a conjunction meaning together with / as well as, 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 an advanced pattern found primarily in formal writing, news articles, business Japanese, and academic texts.

When to Use#

• When something happens simultaneously with something else
• When expressing "along with" or "as well as"

When NOT to Use#

• In very casual speech — a simpler expression is usually more natural

Example Sentences#

• 技術の進歩とともに、伝統技法も進化しています。 — Together with technological advancement, traditional techniques are also evolving.
• 経済発展とともに、伝統文化が失われつつあります。 — Along with economic development, traditional culture is gradually being lost.
• 社会の近代化とともに、生活様式も変わっています。 — As society modernizes, lifestyles are also changing.

Practice#

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

Common Mistakes#

1. Using 〜とともに 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.
2. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜とともに 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#

• 〜ながら (while doing ~) — Next step