〜ついでに
While at It
Use 〜ついでに to say 'while I'm at it' or 'on the way.' It links a main purpose (Action A) with an incidental, convenient extra task (Action B).
How It Works
The grammar pattern 〜ついでに (sometimes written in kanji as 序でに, though almost always written in hiragana in modern Japanese) is used when you perform a secondary action because the primary action you are already doing makes it convenient. It translates to "while you're at it," "on the way," or "taking the opportunity to."
Key Characteristics:
- Primary vs. Secondary: The action before 〜ついでに is the main reason for your movement or activity. The action after it is a "bonus" or an afterthought, and this secondary action should generally be "lighter" or less significant than the primary action.
- Efficiency: It implies "killing two birds with one stone"（一石二鳥 - いっせきにちょう）.
- Subject: While the person performing the primary and secondary actions is usually the same, it is not a strict requirement. It is perfectly natural to use this pattern when someone else's action creates a convenient opportunity for you (e.g., 妻が病院に行くついでに、私も診てもらった - While my wife went to the hospital, I got checked too). Note: While native speakers naturally use this with different subjects in real life, many JLPT textbooks teach that the subject must be the same. Keep this in mind for exams.
- Volitional Action: The secondary action must be an intentional, volitional action, not an accidental event or natural occurrence.
- Social Nuance: Avoid using this when asking a superior (like a boss or teacher) to do something. It can sound like you are treating their main task as a mere excuse for your errand, which is impolite.
- Comparison with 〜がてら: While both patterns mean doing two things at once, 〜ついでに has a strict primary/secondary hierarchy (the second action is just a bonus). In contrast, 〜がてら treats both actions as somewhat equal purposes and sounds more formal.
Grammar Rules:
- Verbs: The choice of form depends on the aspect of the main action. Use the Dictionary Form when the secondary action happens before or during the main action. Use the た-form when the secondary action happens after the main action is completed or while in that resulting state.
- Nouns: Use Noun + の. This is explicitly used with する-verbs / action nouns (動作性名詞 - nouns that can take 〜する), such as 買い物（かいもの - shopping）, 散歩（さんぽ - walk）, 話（はなし - talk）, or 用事（ようじ - errand）.
- Conjunction: It can start a sentence as ついでに、〜 to mean "Additionally..." or "While we're on the topic..."
Examples (4)
- 買い物のついでに、郵便局に行って切手を買った。
While I was out shopping, I went to the post office and bought stamps.
Word by Word: Shopping's opportunity-in, post office to going stamps bought.
Shopping was the main purpose; visiting the post office was a convenient extra task.
- 散歩に行くついでに、このゴミを捨ててきてくれない？
While you're going for a walk, could you throw away this trash for me?
Word by Word: Walk to go opportunity-in, this trash throw-away-come won't you?
The dictionary form 行く is used here because the walk is about to happen.
- 京都へ行ったついでに、古いお寺をたくさん見た。
While I was in Kyoto (taking the opportunity of having gone there), I saw many old temples.
Word by Word: Kyoto to went opportunity-in, old temples many saw.
The past tense 行った is used because the speaker is reflecting on the trip they took.
- ついでに、これも確認しておいてください。
While you're at it, please check this as well.
Word by Word: Opportunity-in, this too check-do-in-advance please.
Here, ついでに is used at the start of the sentence to add an incidental request.
Common Mistakes
Using it for requests to superiors.
（部長に）会議に行くついでに、この資料をコピーしてください。（部長に）お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、会議の際にこの資料のコピーをお願いできますか？Telling a boss 'while you're at it' (ついでに) makes their main task seem like a convenience for your errand, which is disrespectful. Use more formal request patterns instead.
Reversing the main and incidental actions.
郵便局に行くついでに、買い物に行った。買い物のついでに、郵便局に行った。The action before ついでに must be the primary purpose. If shopping was the main goal, it must come first.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand '〜ついでに', you need to know how to connect nouns using the particle 'の' and how to modify nouns with verbs. Since 'ついで' acts as a noun meaning 'opportunity' or 'occasion', it follows standard noun modification rules.
- のPossessive/nominalizer
The particle 'の' is required to connect 'ついでに' to nouns (e.g., 買い物のついでに).
Level 1 - Noun Modification
Understanding how verbs in the dictionary form or past form modify nouns is essential because 'ついでに' functions like a noun in this structure.
Level 1 - にTarget/location Marker
The particle 'に' is used here to mark the specific timing or occasion of the secondary action.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- ながらWhile Doing
Both mean 'while,' but ながら focuses on two actions happening simultaneously, whereas 〜ついでに focuses on one action being an incidental opportunity provided by another.
Level 2 - 〜うちにWhile/during
Both involve doing something during a specific time frame, but 〜うちに emphasizes doing something before a state changes, while 〜ついでに emphasizes convenience.
Level 3 - 〜がてらWhile/on the Occasion
A more formal and literary version of 〜ついでに, often used with movement verbs like walking or strolling.
Level 5 - 〜かたがたWhile Also/partly
A very formal pattern where both actions have equal importance, unlike 〜ついでに where one is clearly secondary.
Level 5 - ておくDo in Advance
Often used in the second half of a 〜ついでに sentence to indicate doing something in advance for future convenience.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜ついでに in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Japanese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
