In today’s article, we will talk about the structure ながら/乍ら (nagara) 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.
In other words, 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 sleep which is 寝る(neru) and becomes 寝ながら(nenagara).
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 o tabenagara gogo o sugoshimashita.
Spending 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 – spent / spending
彼らは歌を歌いながら、道を歩いた。
Karera wa uta o utainagara, michi o aruita.
They walked down the street singing a song.
- 彼ら – they
- 歌 – song
- 歌いながら – singing
- 道 – road
- 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 began the countdown cautiously.
- ついに – finally
- 用心 – caution / to be careful
- 秒読み – countdown
- 開始した – was 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 calling for help.
- 走り – run
- 助け – help
- 呼んでいた – was calling
彼はいつだって歌いながらシャワーを浴びる。
Kare wa itsu 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 – bathe
彼女は微笑みながら言いました。
Kanojo wa hohoeminagara iimashita.
She said with a smile.
- 彼女 – she
- 微笑み – smile
- 言いました – said
Video lesson
To finish, let’s leave an explanatory lesson taught by our teacher Luiz Rafael.
Sentences from the video:
彼女が歩きながら話した
Kanojo ga arukinagara hanashita
While walking, she spoke.
- 彼女（かのじょ）- she
- 歩く（あるく）- 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
Kinō terebi o minagara gohan o tabete imashita
Yesterday, while watching television, I was eating rice.
- 昨日（きのう）- yesterday
- テレビ – television
- 見る（みる）- watch
- ご飯（ごはん）- meal / lunch / rice
- 食べる（たべる）- 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）- watch
- 夢（ゆめ）- dream
お父さんは微笑みながら言いました
Otōsan wa hohoeminagara iimashita
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 o nagashinagara kotaemashita
My grandson answered while crying.
- 孫（まご）- grandson
- 涙（なみだ）- tear
- 流す（ながす）- flow
- 答える（こたえる）- answer
I hope you enjoyed the article! Thank you for the comments and shares!
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