ながら（も） (nagara mo)

Meaning & usage

ながら links two simultaneous actions, attaching to a verb masu-stem (料理し, 読み, ふけり). Adding も, as in ながらも, adds a contrastive nuance of doing the second action despite the first (puffing and panting, yet still running).

Example sentences 8

1. 母ははは台所だいどころでせっせと料理りょうりしながら歌うたを口くちずさんでいた。

   Mother hummed to herself as she went about her cooking in the kitchen.

2. ぜいぜい言いながらも、気合をいれて走り続ける。

   Puffing and panting we continued to run with renewed vigor.

3. 例によって彼は新聞を読みながら食事をしている。

   As is his way, he eats reading a newspaper.

4. 彼女は物思いにふけりながらあちこち歩いていた。

   She was walking to and fro, lost in thought.

5. 冷えたビールでも飲みながら話しましょう。

   Let's talk over a cold beer.

6. 夫は新聞を読みながら、朝ごはんを食べる。

   My husband has his breakfast while reading the newspaper.

7. 夕方にまたサファリに出掛け、夜はカバの声を聞きながら眠りについた。

   In the evening I went out on safari again, at night I fell asleep hearing the grunting of the hippos.

8. 本を読みながら食事をしてはいけません。

   Don't eat while reading.