JLPT N1Spoken and written

を兼かねてdoubling as; partly for

One trip, event or thing serves two purposes, and both were meant: a walk to the library that is also your exercise.

散さん歩ぽを兼かねて、図と書しょ館かんまで歩あるいて本ほんを返かえしに行いった。

I walked to the library to return a book, and made a stroll of it.

before a noun

地ち域いき交こう流りゅうを兼かねた防ぼう災さい訓くん練れんを日にち曜よう日びに実じっ施しします。

On Sunday we will hold a disaster drill that doubles as a chance for neighbors to get to know each other.

How to form it

Noun + を兼かねて

In conversation it is often も兼かねて, "partly for … too".

Before a noun

Noun + を兼かねた + noun

歓かん迎げい会かいを兼かねた花はな見み, a cherry-blossom party that is also a welcome party.

Before it: The second purpose: 散さん歩ぽ, 運うん動どう, 気き分ぶん転てん換かん, 挨あい拶さつ, 観かん光こう, 練れん習しゅう. Or both purposes, joined by と: 趣しゅ味みと実じつ益えきを兼かねて, for pleasure and profit at once.
After it: The one thing that does both jobs: a trip, a visit, a party, a purchase.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation, invitations and notices, business talk, descriptions of rooms and products. It is one to use.

In use

今こん週しゅう末まつは運うん動どうを兼かねて、海うみ沿ぞいを自じ転てん車しゃで走はしるつもりです。

This weekend I'm going to cycle along the coast, partly for the exercise.

挨あい拶さつを兼かねて、新あたらしい部ぶ長ちょうが各かく部ぶ署しょを回まわった。

The new department head made the rounds of each section, partly to introduce himself.

気き分ぶん転てん換かんも兼かねて、今日きょうは外そとで食たべない？

Shall we eat out today? It would make a change, too.

父ちちは趣しゅ味みと実じつ益えきを兼かねて、庭にわで野や菜さいを作つくっている。

My father grows vegetables in the garden, for pleasure and profit at once.

Two things to know

You meant both

散さん歩ぽを兼かねて、駅えき前まえのパン屋やまで行いった。

I went as far as the bakery by the station, and made it my walk.

You set out meaning to do both.

散さん歩ぽのついでに、駅えき前まえのパン屋やに寄よった。

While I was out for a walk, I dropped in at the bakery by the station.

You went out for the walk. The bakery was the extra.

Rooms and people double too

兼かねる is a verb, to be two things at once, so it can also end a sentence.

この部屋へやは客きゃく間まと書しょ斎さいを兼かねている。

This room is both the guest room and the study.

彼かれは選せん手しゅと監かん督とくを兼かねている。

He is both a player and the manager.

Close neighbours

がてらN1

One outing with a second thing fitted into the same trip. Grown-up and a little old-fashioned, but not formal.

私わたしは散さん歩ぽがてら、図と書しょ館かんに予よ約やくした本ほんを受うけ取とりに行いった。

While out for a walk, I went to the library to pick up a book I had reserved.

かたがたN1

Formal and courteous, for visits and letters: you come to thank someone, apologize or pay your respects, and do something else with it.

お礼れいかたがた、ご挨あい拶さつに伺うかがいました。

I have come to pay my respects, and to thank you as well.

かたわらN1

Years, not one trip: a second activity kept up alongside your main work.

彼かれは会かい社しゃに勤つとめるかたわら、小しょう説せつを書かいている。

He writes novels alongside his job at a company.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

出しゅっ張ちょう（　　）、たまたま見みつけた古ふる本ほん屋やに入はいった。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

観かん光こうを兼かねて、出しゅっ張ちょうの日にっ程ていを一いち日にち延のばした。

I added a day to the business trip so as to do some sightseeing as well.

休きゅう養ようを兼かねた温おん泉せん旅りょ行こうを両りょう親しんにプレゼントした。

I gave my parents a hot-spring trip that would be a good rest for them too.

視し察さつを兼かね、担たん当とう者しゃが現げん地ちの工こう場じょうを訪ほう問もんした。

The person in charge visited the local factory, partly to inspect it.

In reports and notices the て often drops.