JLPT N2 grammar

〜ながら(も)meaning and usage

Meaning

Although A, B

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)ながら（も）
  • verb (nai-form)ながら（も）
  • い-adjectiveながら（も）
  • な-adjective (stem)/nounながら（も）

How it is used

Concessive 'although', with the same subject in both halves; somewhat formal. With verbs it usually describes a state, as in 「知っていながら」; it also follows adjectives and nouns: 「狭いながらも」. It has the same form as 「ながら」 'while'; context tells them apart.

Examples

  1. 彼は文句を言いながらもずっとあの会社に勤めている。

    Even though he complains, he has been working at that company all along.

  2. 狭いながらも、駅に近くて住みやすい部屋だ。

    Small as it is, the apartment is close to the station and easy to live in.

  3. 彼は答えを知っていながら、何も言わなかった。

    He knew the answer, yet he said nothing.