Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
につれて describes one change happening in proportion to another change, so both sides must be verbs of change (成長するにつれて…離れていく). と共に is broader: it can mean two things share a property or happen together, not necessarily changing in proportion (建設的であると共に革命的). Swapping them is unnatural when there is no proportional change, since につれて requires a dynamic shift on both sides.
- につれて/つれ Use につれて when one change scales with another simultaneous change.
- と共に Use と共に when two things share a quality or happen together, not necessarily changing.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| につれて/つれ nitsurete tsure | As/Along with | N3 |
| と共に to ni | Together with; as; along with | N3 |
につれて/つれ nitsurete tsure
As/Along with
As; in proportion to; with | A phrase used to indicate that a change occurs in accordance with another simultaneous change.
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子供は成長するにつれて、親から離れていく。
As children grow up, they become independent of their parents.
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季節の変化につれて、 風景も変わる。
The scenery also changes with season changes.
と共に to ni
Together with; as; along with
As well as; with; along with; at the same time; when, as; while | A phrase which is used to express the idea that A and B share a common property or do the same thing together, that two things take place at the same time, or that someone or something possesses two properties.
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その提案は建設的であると共に革命的であった。
The proposal was revolutionary as well as constructive.
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スタインベックはへミングウィイと共にアメリカの代表的作家の一人だ。
Steinbeck, as well as Hemingway, is a writer representative of American writers.
につれて/つれ and と共に are both JLPT N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.