While A, B
Both actions A and B are occuring at the same time. Emphasis is placed on the second action (B) in the sentence.
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私は歌いながらお風呂に入った。
I sang while I took a bath.
27点
本を読みながら彼女を待ちます。
I wait for her while I read a book.
9点
すごい!田中さんはジャンプをしながら歌います!
Wow! Mr. Tanaka is jumping while he sings.
24点
車を運転しながら携帯電話を使わないでください!
Please don't use a cellphone while driving!
23点
お母さんはいつも朝ご飯を食べながらテレビを見ます。
My mom always watches TV while she is eating breakfast.
16点
毎晩、テレビを見ながら、夕食を食べます。
Every night I watch TV while eating dinner.
6点
山川さんはテレビを見ながら家族と話していた。
Mr. Yamagawa was talking to his family while he watched TV.
7点
おやつを食べながら本を読むのは平気ですか?
Is it cool if I read a book while I have a snack?
Getting the sentences
These user sentences have been verified by a native speaker.

shirothekiller
0
2
Level: 1
(10 years ago)
テレビを見ながら、日本語を勉強しています。
I'm studying Japanese while I'm watching television.


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Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
食べながら話す (talk while eating)
歩きながら口笛を吹きます (whistle while walking)
The verb in A is made by adding ながら to the stem form (ます-form).
Basic Examples
まちます まちながら
つくります つくりながら
します しながら
Similar grammar
~ながら's meaning/usage is very similar to ~間. While ながら requires the subject/actors in the first and second half of the sentence to be the same thing, 間 does not have this restriction.
Related Expressions
Where this grammar is found
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 18
Nihongo So-Matome N4 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 5日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 2課
renshuu schedule packs: N5 Grammar pack
Nihongo So-Matome N4 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 5日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 2課
renshuu schedule packs: N5 Grammar pack
User notes
15点
here are some set Phrases that use ながら with them
おそれながら・怖れながら=let me say humbly
はばかりながら・憚りながら=with all due respect
ざんねんながら・残念ながら=im afraid to say that
はずかしながら・恥かしながら=i am ashamed to say that
おそまきながら・遅まきながら=belatedly
さしながら=nevertheless
とは言いながら=with these words
おそれながら・怖れながら=let me say humbly
はばかりながら・憚りながら=with all due respect
ざんねんながら・残念ながら=im afraid to say that
はずかしながら・恥かしながら=i am ashamed to say that
おそまきながら・遅まきながら=belatedly
さしながら=nevertheless
とは言いながら=with these words
10 years ago

19点
Generally speaking, in this construction the more 'important' action is the latter of the two, and the lesser one is the former: for example 電話で話しながら仕事をする talk on the phone while doing work - doing work is more important, talking on the phone is what's going on during the other action.
11 years ago

Advanced notes
一
The same subject must be perfoming both actions; there cannot be a different subject for A and B.
私は彼女を待ちながら本を読みました。(correct)
I read a book while I was waiting on the girl.
私は彼女を待ちながら男の子は本を読みました。(incorrect)
私が彼女を待つ間、男の子は本を読んだ。(fixed)
The boy read a book while I was waiting for the girl.
The grammar structure ~間/あいだ means the same as ~ながら, but A and B can have different subjects.
二
This structure can be used with verbs A that span a long period of time.
父は、奨学金をもらいながら、大学に通いました。(correct)
My father got a scholarship to go to college.
母は、4人の子を育てながら、常勤で働いています。(correct)
My mother works full time while raising four children.
三
Verbs that are continuous or which indicate actions/effects over a period of time can be used for A.
Basic Examples
書く(to write)
読む(to read)
待つ(to wait)
使う(to use)
歌う(to sing)
洗う(to wash)
四
Verbs that are one-time/instantaneous cannot be used for A
Basic Examples
壊れる(to break,intransitive)
死ぬ(to die)
開く(to be open)
始まる (to begin)
Discussion about this grammar
Years Studied: 7
Studying: JLPT 2級
Level: 1,
好 : 17
Studying: JLPT 2級
1点
13 years ago (Edited 13 years ago.)

Level: 1,
好 : 113
3点
13 years ago (Edited 13 years ago.)

Site admin
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
0点
13 years ago

Site admin
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
0点
13 years ago
Years Studied: 7
Studying: JLPT 2級
Level: 1,
好 : 17
Studying: JLPT 2級
0点
13 years ago

Level: 1,
好 : 113
0点
13 years ago
Native speaker
Level: 1,
好 : 19
4点
13 years ago

Site admin
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
0点
13 years ago
Years Studied: 1
Studying: JLPT 4級
Level: 1,
好 : 24
Studying: JLPT 4級
0点
13 years ago

Site admin
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
0点
13 years ago
guest
0点
11 years ago

Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 95
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
11 years ago

Level: 1,
好 : 113
0点
11 years ago

Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 95
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
11 years ago

Level: 1,
好 : 113
1点
11 years ago

Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 95
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
11 years ago

Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3
Level: 1,
好 : 276
Studying: JLPT N3
0点
10 years ago
guest
3点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3
Level: 1,
好 : 276
Studying: JLPT N3
0点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 二年間
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
Level: 1,
好 : 97
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
1点
7 years ago

Site admin
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
Level: 105, 好 : 6,478
1点
7 years ago

Years Studied: 二年間
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
Level: 1,
好 : 97
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
1点
7 years ago