In today's article we are going to talk about the ながら/乍ら (nagara) structure which is used to express 2 actions/verbs that are happening simultaneously. You can use it to indicate 2 things you are doing at the same time.
That is, nagara can be literally translated to: while, time, during, all, although and others.
To use nagara it is necessary to change or remove the last syllable of the verb conjugation. See the example of the verb to sleep which is 寝る (neru) and becomes 寝ながら (nenagara).
Índice de Conteúdo
example sentences
Let's learn the meaning of nagara in practice! See example sentences below and try to reason how nagara is applied in these sentences:
ブドウを食べながら午後を過ごしました。
Budō or tabenagara gogo or sugoshimashita.
Passing by in the afternoon, while eating grapes.
- ブドウ - grape
- 食べながら - while eating
- 午後 - afternoon
- 過ごしました - passed / passing
彼らは歌を歌いながら、道を歩いた。
Karera wa uta or utainagara, michi or aruita.
They walked down the street singing a song.
- 彼ら - they
- 歌 - song
- 歌いながら - singing
- 道 - path
- 歩いた - walked
ついに彼らは用心しながら秒読みを開始した。
Tsuini karera wa yōjin shinagara byōyomi o kaishi shita.
Finally, they cautiously began counting.
- ついに - finally
- 用心 - caution / be careful
- 秒読み - countdown
- 開始した - has been started
彼は走りながら助けを呼んでいた。
Kare wa hashirinagara tasuke o yonde ita.
He was running and asking for help.
- 走り - run
- 助け - help
- 呼んでいた - was called
彼はいつだって歌いながらシャワーを浴びる。
Kare wa itu datte utainagara shawā o abiru.
He always sings in the shower.
- いつだって - always
- シャワー - shower
- 浴びる - to bathe
彼女は微笑みながら言いました。
Kanojo wa hohoeminagara imashita.
She said with a smile.
- 彼女 - ela
- 微笑み - smile
- 言いました - said
Video lesson
Finally, we will leave an explanatory class taught by our sensei Luiz Rafael.
Click here to register for Japanese Language Week and download the book
Video sentences:
彼女が歩きながら話した
She was talking while walking.
As she walked, she talked.
- 彼女（かのじょ）：she
- 歩く（あるく）：walk / walk
- 話す（はなす）：speak
昨日テレビを見ながらご飯を食べていました
Yesterday I ate while watching TV.
Yesterday, while watching television, I was eating rice.
- 昨日（きのう）：yesterday
- テレビ：television
- 見る（みる）：look / watch
- ご飯（ごはん）：meal / lunch / rice
- 食べる（たべる）：to eat
起きながら見た夢
Okinagara mita yume
The dream I had while waking up.
- 起きる（おきる）：wake up
- 見る（みる）：look / watch
- 夢（ゆめ）：dream
お父さんは微笑みながら言いました
Otōsan wa hohoeminagara imashita
Dad said while smiling.
- お父さん（おとうさん）：father
- 微笑む（ほほえむ）smile
- 言う（いう）：say
孫は涙を流しながら答えました
Mago wa namida or nagashinagara kotaemashita
My grandson responded while crying.
- 孫（まご）：grandson
- 涙（なみだ）：tear
- 流す（ながす）：flow / circulate / flow
- 答える（こたえる）：reply
Hope you enjoyed the article! Thanks for the comments and shares!
