ながら
Meanings
Attaches to the -masu stem of a verb to indicate simultaneous action or a state that continues while another action occurs.
I study while listening to music.
He spoke while laughing.
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
Though it's small, it's a happy home.
Despite being young, he is very reliable.
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: ふたつながら
Both are wonderful works.
I think I did well, even if I say so myself.
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).
He was late, as always.
She said goodbye in tears.
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)
'Nagarazoku' is a term for people who do something else while doing one thing.
Usage patterns
- 〈動詞〉ながら〈動詞〉to do one action while doing another
I study while listening to music.
- 〈動詞〉ながらもeven though; despite doing
Even though I know it's wrong, I can't stop.
- 涙ながらに〈動詞〉to do something while in tears
She explained the situation in tears.