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〜ながら(も) (although)

although, even though

Verb ます-stem / い-adj / Noun + ながら(も)

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At N5, ながら meant doing two things at once. With states, it means "although": 狭いながらも、快適な部屋だ, "it's small, but it's a comfortable room". The も is optional and adds emphasis.

It attaches to a ます-stem (知っていながら), an い-adjective (狭いながら), a noun (子どもながら) or a な-adjective stem (残念ながら).

The feeling is "despite that": 知っていながら、何も言わなかった, "even though I knew, I said nothing". It often admits something awkward.

Set phrases: 残念ながら, "unfortunately"; 勝手ながら, "we apologise, but" (on shop notices); 陰ながら, "from the sidelines". Context tells you which ながら you're reading: an action verb means "while", a state means "although".

Examples

  • 狭せまいながらも、快適かいてきな部屋へやだ。

    It's small, but it's a comfortable room.

  • 知しっていながら、何なにも言いわなかった。

    Even though I knew, I didn't say anything.

  • 残念ざんねんながら、今回こんかいは参加さんかできません。

    Unfortunately, I can't take part this time.

  • 子こどもながら、よく頑張がんばった。

    Although just a child, they did very well.

  • 体からだに悪わるいと分わかっていながら、たばこをやめられない。

    Even though I know it's bad for me, I can't quit smoking.

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