JLPT N3EverydaySpoken and written

ついでにwhile I'm at it; while you're there

You are doing one thing anyway, so you fit in a second while you have the chance. What comes before ついでに is the main thing; what comes after is the extra.

after a noun

買かい物もののついでに、クリーニングを受うけ取とってくれる？

Could you pick up the dry cleaning while you're out shopping?

by itself

ついでに牛ぎゅう乳にゅうも買かってきて。

Get some milk too while you're at it.

How to form it

Verb (dictionary form or た-form) + ついでに・ Noun + の + ついでに

行いくついでに, 散さん歩ぽのついでに. The た-form is for a main thing that is already done: 行いったついでに. By itself at the start of a sentence, ついでに is "while you're at it".

Before it: What you were doing anyway: 買かい物もの, 散さん歩ぽ, 出しゅっ張ちょう, 掃そう除じ, 駅えきまで行いく.
After it: The extra, often with も ("too"): something else you do, or a small favor you ask.
Where you'll meet it: All day long, at home and at work. It is fine in polite speech too.

In use

私わたしは図と書しょ館かんへ本ほんを返かえしに行いくついでに、近ちかくの郵ゆう便びん局きょくで切きっ手てを買かいました。

I was going to the library to return a book, so I bought stamps at the post office nearby while I was at it.

健けん太たは駅えきまで友とも達だちを送おくったついでに、駅えき前まえの店みせで夕ゆう食しょくを買かった。

Kenta saw his friend to the station and, while he was there, bought dinner at a shop out front.

コーヒーを入いれるついでに、私わたしの分ぶんもお願ねがい。

Since you're making coffee anyway, could you make me one too?

By itself: while you're at it

When the main thing has just been said, or is plain to see, ついでに starts the sentence by itself. It is how people slip in a small request.

A

コピーを取とりに行いってきます。

I'm going to make some copies.

B

ついでに、この資し料りょうも十じゅう部ぶお願ねがいできますか。

While you're at it, could you make ten copies of this handout too?

What comes first is the main thing

Swap the two halves and the story changes.

散さん歩ぽのついでに、手て紙がみを出だしてきた。

I mailed a letter while I was out for a walk.

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

手て紙がみを出だしに行いったついでに、少すこし散さん歩ぽしてきた。

I went out to mail a letter and had a short walk while I was at it.

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

Close neighbours

ながらN5

Two things going on at the same moment. ついでに is not that kind of "while": one thing gives you the chance to do the other.

音おん楽がくを聞ききながら、宿しゅく題だいをします。

I do my homework while listening to music.

Check yourself

1What did this person go out for?

郵ゆう便びん局きょくに行いくついでに、パン屋やに寄よった。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

ついで is also a noun: a chance that comes up anyway. With it people say that something is no trouble, or that there is no hurry.

駅えきまで送おくるよ。ついでだから。

I'll take you to the station. I'm going that way anyway.

本ほんはついでのときに返かえしてくれればいいよ。

Just give the book back whenever you happen to be coming this way.

In casual talk and in headlines the の after a noun sometimes drops: 買かい物ものついでに.

More sentences

母ははは散さん歩ぽのついでに、商しょう店てん街がいの新あたらしいパン屋やをのぞいてみた。

While out for a walk, my mother stopped to take a look at the new bakery in the shopping street.

私わたしは市し役やく所しょで住じゅう所しょ変へん更こうをしたついでに、住じゅう民みん票ひょうも取とってきた。

I was at city hall to change my address, so I got a copy of my residence record while I was there.

私わたしは出しゅっ張ちょうで大おお阪さかへ行いくついでに、現げん地ちの支し店てんにも寄よる予よ定ていだ。

I'm going to Osaka on business, and I plan to drop in at the branch there while I'm at it.

私わたしは古ふるい写しゃ真しんを整せい理りしたついでに、不ふ要ようなデータも削さく除じょした。

I sorted through my old photos and, while I was at it, deleted some data I didn't need.