N1 Purpose and Means

~がてら: meaning, usage and examples

~がてら means: while... / on the way... (doing two things at once).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 散歩さんぽがてら、コンビニで牛乳ぎゅうにゅうを買かってきた。

   While I was out for a walk, I bought milk at the convenience store.

2. 運動うんどうがてら、一駅分歩ひとえきぶんあるくことにしている。

   I make it a rule to walk one station's distance, partly as exercise.

3. 花見はなみがてら、川かわ沿ぞいの道みちを駅えきまで歩あるいた。

   I walked to the station along the river, enjoying the cherry blossoms on the way.

4. 買かい物ものに行いきがてら、図書館としょかんに本ほんを返かえしてきた。

   On my way to go shopping, I returned some books to the library.

When to use it

Means doing one activity and using it as a chance to also do something else, usually while going somewhere. Example: 散歩さんぽがてら、パンを買かってきた (I went for a walk and picked up some bread on the way). Typical nouns: 散歩さんぽ, 買かい物もの, 運動うんどう, 見物けんぶつ, 花見はなみ; with verbs, the ます-stem: 送おくりがてら.

Nuance

Casual to neutral; common in conversation and blogs. The main verb is usually a movement or errand verb such as 行いく, 来くる, 歩あるく, 寄よる. It describes a single outing, not a lasting job. The two actions are done by the same person.

Compare

がてら is casual and centers on going out: 買かい物ものがてら散歩さんぽする. かたがた is the formal letter and greeting version: ご挨拶あいさつかたがた伺うかがう. ついでに is the everyday version and can follow a full verb: 駅えきへ行いくついでに手紙てがみを出だす. かたわら is for long-term side activities.

Tip: Picture the walk itself: 散歩さんぽがてら, 運動うんどうがてら, 花見はなみがてら. If the first action is movement, がてら sounds natural.