While out, taking the chance to: 〜がてら
名詞・動詞ます形 + がてら
Noun or stem + がてら = “taking the chance while (out doing this)”: one occasion, two purposes, with the second action often involving a movement. Everyday register.
In short
A がてら B: while doing A (often an outing, a walk), you take the chance to do B along the way. One outing, two purposes. B is generally a movement (行く, 寄る, 出かける, 歩く) or an action done during it. Everyday register, in speech and relaxed writing.
- 散歩がてら、パンを買ってきた。さんぽがてら、パンをかってきた。I bought some bread while I was out for a walk.
- 駅まで友達を送りがてら、本屋に寄った。えきまでともだちをおくりがてら、ほんやによった。While seeing my friend off at the station, I took the chance to drop into the bookshop.
- 買い物がてら、新しくできたカフェをのぞいてみた。かいものがてら、あたらしくできたカフェをのぞいてみた。While doing the shopping, I popped in to have a look at the new café.
The basics
がてら says “taking advantage of A”. You go out for A, and since you're out, you also do B. The idea is practical and light: killing two birds with one stone on a single outing.
I bought some bread while I was out for a walk.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 散歩がてらパンを買ってきた。さんぽがてらパンをかってきた。I bought some bread while I was out for a walk.
- 気分転換がてら、少し外を歩いてくるよ。きぶんてんかんがてら、すこしそとをあるいてくるよ。I'm going to walk around outside for a bit — it'll clear my head.
How to form it
がてら follows an action noun (散歩, 買い物, 見物) or a verb stem (the ます-form without ます).
| Before | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| action noun | noun + がてら | 散歩がてら, 買い物がてら |
| verb | stem (ます) + がてら | 送りがてら, 見がてら |
| typical follow-up | 行く, 寄る, 歩く, 〜てくる | 本屋に寄る |
- 京都見物がてら、昔の友人に会いに行った。きょうとけんぶつがてら、むかしのゆうじんにあいにいった。While sightseeing in Kyoto, I took the chance to go and see an old friend.
An outing, a movement
The second action almost always implies moving around: you drop in somewhere, bring something back, walk. がてら describes a one-off occasion, not an activity carried on in parallel over years (for that: かたわら).
- 犬の散歩がてら、近所のパン屋で朝ご飯を買う。いぬのさんぽがてら、きんじょのパンやであさごはんをかう。While walking the dog, I buy breakfast at the local bakery.
がてら, かたがた, ついでに
かたがた is the very polite version used in letters (お礼かたがた). ついでに (N3) says “while you're at it” and is used for any secondary action, even without going out. がてら sits between the two: everyday, and tied to an outing.
| Form | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜がてら | everyday | 散歩がてら郵便局に寄る |
| 〜かたがた | very polite, letters | お礼かたがたお伺いする |
| 〜ついでに | everyday, casual | コンビニに行くついでに |
- コンビニに行くついでに、ゴミを出してくれる？コンビニにいくついでに、ゴミをだしてくれる？While you're going to the convenience store, could you take the rubbish out?
Common mistakes
- Using it for two lasting activities: “仕事がてら小説を書く” is wrong; it's 仕事のかたわら.
- Using it in a formal thank-you letter: you write お礼かたがた, not お礼がてら.
- Putting the verb in the dictionary form: you say 送りがてら, not “送るがてら”.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Nishi-Kyūshū Line (Trade and the economy) of the Shinkansen.