ながら

particle, conjunction

while; during; as

Attaches to the -masu stem of a verb to indicate simultaneous action or a state that continues while another action occurs.

• 音おん楽がくを聴ききながら勉べん強きょうする。

  I study while listening to music.

• 彼かれは笑わらいながら話はなした。

  He spoke while laughing.

particle, conjunction

although; though; despite

Follows a verb stem, adjective, or noun to express a contrast or concession, similar to 'even though' or 'in spite of'.

See also: 我ながら

• 狭せまいながらも楽たのしい我わが家や。

  Though it's small, it's a happy home.

• 彼かれは若わかいながら、

particle

both; all

Used in fixed expressions like 二つながら (both) or 我ながら (even for oneself) to mean 'both' or 'all' of something.

See also: 二つながら

• 二ふたつながら素す晴ばらしい作さく品ひんだ。

  Both are wonderful works.

• 我われながらよくやったと思おもう。

  I think I did well, even if I say so myself.

particle

as (e.g. 'as always'); in (e.g. 'in tears')

Follows nouns or adverbial forms to indicate a state or manner, often in set phrases like いつもながら (as always) or 涙ながら (in tears).

• 彼かれはいつもながら遅ち刻こくした。

  He was late, as always.

• 彼かの女じょは涙なみだながらに別わかれを告つげた。

  She said goodbye in tears.

prefix

while doing something else at the same time

Prefix-like use in compounds such as ながら族 (people who do two things at once, e.g., watching TV while eating). Not freely productive.

See also: ながら族 (ながらぞく)

• 「ながら族ぞく」とは、何なにかをしながら別べつのことをする人ひと々びとを指さす言こと葉ばだ。

  'Nagarazoku' is a term for people who do something else while doing one thing.