connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
ついでに — while at it
ついでに
Meaning
- while (you're) at it / on the same occasion / taking the opportunity to ~ — does a second thing because a first errand makes it convenient
Key sentence
買い物のついでに、郵便局に寄った。
While out shopping, I stopped by the post office.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + の + ついでに, or Verb (dictionary/た) + ついでに | [N]のついでに / [V]ついでに | 散歩のついでに / 出かけたついでに |
Examples
コンビニに行くついでに、これも出しておいて。
While you're going to the convenience store, post this too.
出張のついでに、実家に顔を出した。
On my business trip, I took the chance to drop in on my parents.
Easily confused with
Notes
- The main action (the 'ついで') comes first and is the real reason for going; the second action is an add-on. ついでに alone at the start of a sentence means 'while I'm at it / incidentally.'
See ついでに in real sentences
Jengo shows ついでに the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.