N3 Time, Sequences, and Change

~とともに: meaning, usage and examples

~とともに means: as... / together with... (simultaneous change).

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

Examples

1. 年としを取とるとともに、目めが悪わるくなってきた。

   As I've gotten older, my eyesight has gotten worse.

2. 経済けいざいの発展はってんとともに、環境かんきょう問題もんだいが増ふえてきた。

   As the economy has developed, environmental problems have increased.

3. 町まちが大おおきくなるとともに、交通こうつうも便利べんりになりました。

   As the town grew, getting around also became easier.

4. 気温きおんが上あがるとともに、アイスが売うれ始はじめます。

   As the temperature rises, ice cream starts to sell.

When to use it

とともに has two common uses. With a verb or a noun of change, it means "as X happens, Y also happens": 人口じんこうが増ふえるとともに、町まちが大おおきくなった. With a person or thing, it means "together with": 家族かぞくとともに暮くらす. At N3 the main focus is the first meaning, where two changes move together.

Nuance

It is formal and written in tone, common in news, speeches and essays. In conversation people usually say につれて or と一緒いっしょに instead. In the change meaning, both clauses describe broad, gradual changes rather than a single event.

Compare

にしたがって and につれて also link two changes, but they stress that the second follows the first step by step: 北きたへ行いくにしたがって寒さむくなる. とともに presents the two changes side by side: 時代じだいの変化へんかとともに、言葉ことばも変かわる. と同時どうじに points to one moment, not a gradual process.

Tip: In everyday talk, 友達ともだちとともに sounds stiff; say 友達ともだちと一緒いっしょに. Keep とともに for writing and formal speech.