「〜がてら」: The Native's Secret to 'Killing Two Birds with One Stone'

Have you ever wanted to go for a relaxing walk, and at the same time remembered you had to stop by the konbini to buy something? Instead of saying two separate sentences, how can you express this idea of "killing two birds with one stone" in a neat and natural Japanese way?

The answer is 「〜がてら」 (gatera)! 😉

What is 「〜がてら」?

Simply put, 「〜がてら」 means "while you're at it," "as you...". It's used when you perform one action (B) while also performing another main action (A).

It connects two actions seamlessly, showing that you're doing B as a part of doing A.

📝 Super Easy-to-Remember Formula

• Verb (ます form, drop ます) + がてら
• Noun + がてら

Examples Make It Clear!

🚶‍♂️ Going for a walk and buying groceries at the same time:

「夕方の散歩がてら、スーパーで牛乳買ってきてくれる？」 (While you're out for your evening walk, could you buy some milk at the supermarket?)

Here, the main action is 散歩 (walking), and the secondary action, done at the same time, is 牛乳を買う (buying milk).

🌸 Going cherry blossom viewing and exploring a new place:

「お花見がてら、新しくできたカフェに行ってみない？」 (While we're out viewing the cherry blossoms, why don't we check out that new cafe that just opened?)

Using it with the noun お花見 (cherry blossom viewing) is perfect!

🤝 In a work context:

「部長への報告がてら、帰りに駅前の本屋に寄ってきます。」 (While I'm reporting to the manager, I'll stop by the bookstore in front of the station on my way back.)

💡 Key Point: How is it different from「ついでに」?

This is where many people get confused! Both mean "while you're at it," but their nuances are slightly different:

• 「〜がてら」: Usually emphasizes the main action that comes first. The second action is secondary, done at the same time or during the process. (e.g., Walking is the main thing, buying groceries is just something you do along the way.)

• 「〜ついでに」: Can be more flexible. Sometimes, the secondary action that comes after is the real purpose. (e.g., 「駅に行くついでに、この手紙出しといて」-> The act of "mailing the letter" might be more important than just "going to the station.")

In other words, がてら gives a feeling that the two actions are more naturally connected, while ついでに is more like "taking an opportunity."

Conclusion

By mastering the use of 「〜がてら」, you can not only express your ideas more effectively but also show a linguistic subtlety that textbooks rarely make clear.

Next time you want to "kill two birds with one stone," try using this secret tip! ✨