Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
While you are doing something (primary action), you do something else (secondary action) because it is convenient or takes advantage of the situation.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that a secondary action is performed opportunistically or conveniently in conjunction with a primary action.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Dictionary Form or た form) + ついでに
Noun + の + ついでに Note: The first action/event (X) is the ‘opportunity’ or the ‘on the way’ part, and the second action (Y) is the one done ‘while’ or ‘at the same time/opportunistically’. Y is the action added because X is happening.
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used, but slightly less common than in informal settings.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversation.
Written Language
Used in informal writing (emails, texts). Less common in formal essays or reports.
Spoken Language
Frequently used in everyday speech.
💡 Common Applications
Running errands/Shopping
When you go out for one purpose (e.g., grocery shopping), you might do another small task (e.g., drop off mail) at the same time.
Example: スーパーへ行く**ついでに**、郵便局に寄った。(While going to the supermarket, I stopped by the post office.)
Housework/Chores
While doing one chore (e.g., cleaning the living room), you might do another related small task (e.g., taking out the trash).
Example: 部屋を掃除する**ついでに**、窓も拭いた。(While cleaning the room, I also wiped the windows.)
Asking a favor
Asking someone to do something for you because they are already going somewhere or doing something relevant.
Example: ちょっと買い物に行く？あ、それなら、私の分もコーヒー買ってきてくれると助かるよ。**ついでに**。(Are you going shopping for a bit? Oh, in that case, if you could buy coffee for me too, I’d appreciate it. While you’re at it…)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
N3
Example Sentences
駅に行く**ついでに**、本屋さんで新しい雑誌を買いました。
While I was going to the station, I bought a new magazine at the bookstore.
散歩の**ついでに**、公園で少し運動しました。
While I was on a walk, I exercised a little in the park.
友達に電話した**ついでに**、来週の予定も確認しました。
While I was calling my friend, I also confirmed the schedule for next week.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Convenience/Opportunity
The core meaning is taking advantage of the primary action (X) as an opportunity to perform the secondary action (Y) easily or efficiently. Y is usually a minor or related task to X.
Example: 銀行に行く**ついでに**、電気代を払う。(While going to the bank, pay the electricity bill – both involve visiting a place/doing a transaction.)
Timing
The secondary action (Y) is typically done either during the primary action (X) or immediately after the primary action has created the convenient situation (e.g., “on the way there,” “while I was there”).
Example: 会社から帰る**ついでに**、夕飯の材料を買って帰る。(On the way home from the company, buy ingredients for dinner and go home.) – The buying happens during the trip home.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ついでに when the two actions are completely unrelated or the second action is the main purpose.
✅ Use a different conjunction or sentence structure if the relationship isn’t one of opportunistic convenience.
ついでに implies Y is a minor addition to the main purpose X. If buying stamps was the main reason for going out, you wouldn’t say 「切手を買う**ついでに**コンビニに寄った」.
❌ Incorrectly connecting verbs or nouns.
✅ Remember Verb (dic/ta) + ついでに, Noun + の + ついでに.
Don’t use ます form or other noun particles like に or へ before ついでに.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral, common in casual conversation. Can be used when asking favors, implying it’s not a big burden because the person is already doing something else.
Social Situations: Very common in daily interactions, shopping, asking favors among friends, family, or close colleagues.
Regional Variations: Concept is universal, specific phrasing might have minor variations but ついでに is standard.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜ついでに vs 〜ながら
ながら is two actions happening simultaneously over a period. ついでに is doing a secondary action because the primary action provides the opportunity (often not strictly simultaneous, can be sequential).
When to use: Use ながらに for “while doing X, also doing Y” (simultaneously, continuous actions like 音楽を聞きながら勉強する – study while listening to music). Use ついでに for “since you are doing X/going to X, might as well do Y” (opportunistic, Y is often a brief action related to the context of X).
〜ついでに vs 〜うちに
〜うちに means “while a state/condition exists” or “before something changes.” ついでに means taking advantage of an existing opportunity.
When to use: Use うちに for “while young” (若いうちに), “while the iron is hot” (暖かいうちに), “before it gets dark” (暗くならないうちに). Use ついでに for “while you are at the station” (駅に行ったついでに).
〜ついでに vs 〜際に
〜際に is more formal and means “at the time of,” “on the occasion of.” ついでに is more informal and about taking opportunistic advantage.
When to use: Use 際に in formal announcements or instructions (お申し込みの際に – at the time of applying). Use ついでに in everyday conversation.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Verb dictionary form/た form, Noun + の. No other forms directly attach.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced “tsu-i-de-ni”. Stress is relatively flat, with a slight dip on ‘de’.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of it as “piggybacking” one task onto another, or killing two birds with one stone (一石二鳥 – isseki nichou).
Practice Exercises
友達と話す機会があるので、明日の待ち合わせ場所を聞きたいです。何と言いますか？ (You have a chance to talk with your friend, and you want to ask about tomorrow’s meeting place. What would you say?)
友達と話しながら、待ち合わせ場所を聞きたいです。
友達と話す**ついでに**、待ち合わせ場所を聞いてもいい？
友達と話すうちに、待ち合わせ場所を聞きましょう。
友達と話す際に、待ち合わせ場所を確認してください。
買い物に出かけますが、牛乳がもうすぐなくなりそうです。どう表現しますか？ (You are going out for shopping, and you are almost out of milk. How would you express this?)
買い物に行ったながら、牛乳を買います。
買い物に行く**ついでに**、牛乳も買ってこよう。
買い物に行くうちに、牛乳を買うべきだ。
買い物に行く際に、牛乳を購入します。
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