ついでに
- 1Taking the opportunity of a main action, expressed by a verb, to do an additional, secondary action.Ex. 1
- 2On the occasion of an activity or visit expressed by a noun, doing something else in addition.Ex. 2
- 3Used on its own as an adverb meaning 'while you're at it' or 'incidentally'.
Standalone: ついでに at the head of a clause as an adverb (e.g. ついでに、これもお願い)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Common in everyday speech and writing for mentioning an errand or extra action fitted into a main activity, such as shopping, a walk, or a visit somewhere. It is stylistically neutral and far more common than がてら or かたがた, which sound more literary or formal. The second action is presented as incidental, done because the opportunity arose.
Learners sometimes reverse the roles; the action before ついでに must be the main purpose, not the extra one.
Do not use ついでに for two actions of equal importance; it implies the second action is secondary.
Note that nouns need の before ついでに (散歩のついでに, 病院のついでに), unlike verbs, which attach directly.
- がてらN1「がてら」 attaches only to action nouns or the masu-stem of a verb; no 「の」 follows a noun, and it cannot stand alone as an adverb. It emphasizes accomplishing two purposes in a single outing, with the second clause typically a movement verb like 「寄る」 or 「行く」.
- かたがたN1「かたがた」 attaches only to action nouns such as 「お礼」 or 「散歩」, not to verbs, and cannot stand alone as an adverb. It carries a formal tone, used mainly for visits and greetings in letters, whereas 「ついでに」 is neutral in register and attaches more broadly; for formal greetings, 「かたがた」 is the more appropriate choice.
- かたわらN1「かたわら」 describes doing something else on a long-term basis alongside one's main job or primary activity; it is written-style language often used to introduce a person's lifestyle. 「ついでに」, by contrast, means doing something incidentally by taking advantage of an opportunity, so the two are generally not interchangeable.
がてら and かたがた also express doing a second thing on the occasion of a first, but they sound more literary and attach mainly to nouns; かたがた is formal and typical of letters and greetings (お礼かたがた). かたわら differs in describing a long-term secondary activity pursued alongside a main occupation, not a one-off incidental action.
