How 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 something changes; along with it; also take someone along | N3 |
| と共に to ni | in company with someone or something; at the same time as; in the course of | N3 |
につれて/つれ nitsurete tsure
As something changes; along with it; also take someone along
につれて expresses that one change happens together with another, meaning 'as' or 'along with'. It attaches to the plain form of a verb, typically one describing a change such as なる or 近づく. The shortened form つれ appears in the compound つれていく, meaning to take someone along to a place.
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陽気が寒くなるにつれて彼の具合がますます悪くなった。
As the weather became colder, he went from bad to worse.
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彼は父に、その店へつれていってくれるように頼んだ。
He asked his father to take him to the store.
と共に to ni
in company with someone or something; at the same time as; in the course of
と共に follows a noun and means that something happens together with, or at the same time as, that noun. It can link two things that develop side by side, describe accompanying someone, or mark the moment something occurs, as in rising with the sunrise. The tone is somewhat formal or written.
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身体は精神と共に発達しなければならない。
The body must be developed along with the mind.
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あなたと共に人生を歩んでいきたい。
I want to spend my life with you.
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 on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.