Grammar › Manner & Method
ながらに — “while, in the very state of”
Says a quality or knowledge was present from the very start of a state, especially from birth
Noun + ながらに (often 生まれながらに, “from birth”) describes a quality present continuously in a certain state, most famously being born with something — “right from X, (already).” Unlike the connective ながら (while doing two things at once), ながらに attaches to a noun and describes an inherent, unchanging condition.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun + ながらに | 生まれながらに優れた才能を持つ — Gifted with outstanding talent from birth |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼は生まれながらにして天才だった。 | かれはうまれながらにしててんさいだった。 karehaumarenagaranishitetensaidatta。 | He was a genius from the moment he was born. |
| 涙ながらに謝罪した。 | なみだながらにしゃざいした。 namidanagaranishazaishita。 | He apologized in tears. |
| 昔ながらの製法で作られたお菓子。 | むかしながらのせいほうでつくられたおかし。 mukashinagaranoseihoudetsukuraretaokashi。 | Sweets made using the traditional method, unchanged since long ago. |
🔊 Tap any Japanese sentence to hear it; kanji link to their study pages.
Watch out
Don't confuse this ながらに (a fixed state, “right from X”) with the connective ながら (“while doing two things at once,” 食べながら話す) — despite looking similar, they attach differently and mean quite different things.