while; on the way to; combining with

がてら means doing one thing while taking the opportunity to do another. Attach it to a noun or a verb's masu-stem. The two actions happen together on one outing, with one as a convenient addition to the other.

Examples

• 散歩さんぽがてら、買かい物ものをしてきた。

  Sanpo gatera, kaimono o shite kita.

  I did some shopping while out for a walk.

• 見舞みまいがてら、彼かれの様子ようすを見みに行いった。

  Mimai gatera, kare no yousu o mi ni itta.

  I went to check on him while visiting the sick.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 散歩 walk; stroll
• する to do
• 彼 he, him
• 見る to see; to watch
• 行く to go

Related patterns · Manner and accompaniment

• 〜ながらに while; as it is (unchanged state)
• 〜かたわら while also; on the side
• 〜まみれ covered in; smeared with
• 〜ずくめ entirely; full of; all (the same)
• 〜めく to show signs of; to become -like