Have you ever heard someone say something like this?

“She works full-time, and at the same time, she’s also studying for a degree.”
Or, “He’s a teacher, but he’s also involved in volunteer work.”

These days, you might hear more modern examples too. Like...

“She’s raising kids and running her own online business at the same time.”
Or, “He’s a creator who runs a YouTube channel, while also working as a freelance designer.”

In Japanese, there’s a very elegant expression to describe this kind of life balance.
That expression is かたわら (katawara).

かたわら is used when someone has a main role or main activity, and alongside that, they are also doing something else continuously.
Not just once or twice, but as part of their lifestyle.

It often appears in profiles, introductions, news articles, and resumes, so it sounds a little formal, but very natural in those contexts.

Let’s take a closer look at how かたわら works, and how Japanese expresses “doing more than one meaningful thing at the same time”.

ながら (nagara) vs ついでに (tsuide ni) vs かたわら (katawara)
These expressions all describe doing more than one thing, but they are used for very different types of situations.

ながら (nagara)
ながら is used when you do two actions at the same time.
Both actions happen simultaneously, and they can be short, casual, or temporary.

音楽を聞きながら勉強します。
おんがく を きき ながら べんきょう します。
ongaku wo kiki nagara benkyou shimasu.
I study while listening to music.

Use ながら for simultaneous actions, even in everyday conversation.

ついでに (tsuide ni)
ついでに is used when you use one action as an opportunity to do another.
The second action is usually small, convenient, or secondary.

買い物のついでに、郵便局に寄りました。
かいもの の ついで に、ゆうびんきょく に よりました。
kaimono no tsuide ni, yuubinkyoku ni yorimashita.
I stopped by the post office while I was out shopping.

Use ついでに when you do something because you were already there anyway.

かたわら (katawara)
かたわら is used when someone has a main, long term activity, and continues another meaningful activity alongside it.
It often appears in writing, profiles, or formal descriptions.

彼は会社で働くかたわら、NPO活動にも参加している。
かれ は かいしゃ で はたらく かたわら、えぬぴーおー かつどう に も さんか して いる。
kare ha kaisha de hataraku katawara, npo katsudou ni mo sanka shite iru.
He works at a company while also taking part in NPO activities.

Use かたわら for two ongoing roles or responsibilities, not momentary actions.

彼は企業で働くかたわら、週末は少年サッカーのコーチをしている。
かれ は きぎょう で はたらく かたわら、しゅうまつ は しょうねん さっかー の こーち を して いる。
kare ha kigyou de hataraku katawara, shuumatsu ha shounen sakkaa no koochi wo shite iru.
He works at a company while coaching a boys’ soccer team on weekends.

祖父は農業を営むかたわら、地元の歴史を研究して本を書いている。
そふ は のうぎょう を いとなむ かたわら、じもと の れきし を けんきゅう して ほん を かいて いる。
sofu ha nougyou wo itonamu katawara, jimoto no rekishi wo kenkyuu shite hon wo kaite iru.
My grandfather runs a farm while researching local history and writing books.

あの人はファッションモデルをするかたわら、保護犬の里親活動をしている。
あの ひと は ふぁっしょん もでる を する かたわら、ほごけん の さとおや かつどう を して いる。
ano hito ha fasshon moderu wo suru katawara, hogoken no satooya katsudou wo shite iru.
That person works as a fashion model while also fostering rescue dogs.

彼女は学業のかたわら、SNSのインフルエンサーとして若者に絶大な人気を誇る。
かのじょ は がくぎょう の かたわら、えすえぬえす の いんふるえんさー として わかもの に ぜつだい な にんき を ほこる。
kanojo ha gakugyou no katawara, esu enu esu no infuruensaa toshite wakamono ni zetsudai na ninki wo hokoru.
She is a student and also a hugely popular influencer among young people on social media.

私は育児のかたわら、資格取得のために毎日2時間は勉強をしている。
わたし は いくじ の かたわら、しかく しゅとく の ため に まいにち にじかん は べんきょう を して いる。
watashi ha ikuji no katawara, shikaku shutoku no tame ni mainichi nijikan ha benkyou wo shite iru.
While raising my child, I study at least two hours every day to earn a qualification.

• Grammar Point: かたわら (katawara)
  
• JLPT Level: N1
• Meaning: While, besides, in addition (doing another ongoing activity)
• Quick Explanation: かたわら is used to describe doing another continuous activity alongside a main role or responsibility, such as work, study, or a long-term commitment.
  
  

So that’s how we use かたわら!
It’s a slightly formal but very expressive way to talk about people who are doing more than one meaningful thing at the same time.

本業のかたわら、別のことにも挑戦している人って、パワフルですよね.
ほんぎょう の かたわら、べつ の こと に も ちょうせん して いる ひと って、ぱわふる です よ ね。
hongyou no katawara, betsu no koto ni mo chousen shite iru hito tte, pawafuru desu yo ne.
People who challenge themselves with something else alongside their main work are really powerful, aren’t they?

Now, it’s your turn! Try making your own sentence with かたわら.
Think about your main role in life and something else you’re doing alongside it.

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

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