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.

私は歌いながらお風呂に入った。
I sang while I took a bath.
32点
本を読みながら彼女を待ちます。
I wait for her while I read a book.
15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.
29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!
26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.
19点
毎晩、テレビを見ながら、夕食を食べます。
Every night I eat dinner while watching TV.
7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.
12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?
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Getting the sentences
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
User notes

くるるぎくん
19
Level: 1
(12 years ago)
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


mysticfive
20
Level: 1265
(12 years ago)
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.

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
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14 years ago

Site admin
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
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14 years ago
Years Studied: 7
Studying: JLPT 2級
Level: 1,
好 : 17
Studying: JLPT 2級
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14 years ago

Level: 1,
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Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
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Site admin
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
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guest
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Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
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Studying: JLPT N1
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12 years ago

Level: 1,
好 : 114
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12 years ago

Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
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Studying: JLPT N1
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12 years ago

Level: 1,
好 : 114
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12 years ago

Years Studied: 4
Studying: JLPT N1
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Years Studied: 二年間
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Site admin
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
Level: 207, 好 : 9,272
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8 years ago

Years Studied: 二年間
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
Level: 1,
好 : 126
Studying: Going wherever my class takes me for now!
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1点
8 years ago