〜とともに: 'Together With' / 'As ... Also'
What it means
〜とともに has three related senses. The thread running through all of them is two things sharing the same moment or situation — whether that's two people, a change happening in step with another, or two roles held at once.
ヤッタンは家族とともに新年を迎えた。
ヤッタンは かぞくと ともに しんねんを むかえた。
Yattan welcomed the New Year together with his family.
Sense 1: 'together with' a person.
時代とともに、人々の価値観も変わっていく。
じだいと ともに、ひとびとの かちかんも かわって いく。
Along with the times, people's values change too.
Sense 2: a change moving in step with another.
先生は研究者であるとともに、優れた教育者でもある。
せんせいは けんきゅうしゃで あると ともに、すぐれた きょういくしゃでも ある。
The teacher is a researcher and, at the same time, an excellent educator.
Sense 3: 'both A and B.'
How to form it
とともに attaches to a noun or to a verb in dictionary form. For sense 3 ("both A and B"), it follows a clause ending in である / a plain form.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + とともに | 家族とともに (together with family) |
| Noun (change) | N + とともに | 年とともに (along with age) |
| Verb (dictionary) | V(る) + とともに | 年を取るとともに (as one ages) |
| Clause (である) | Nである + とともに | 親であるとともに (while also being a parent) |
Note that 共 can be written in kanji (と共に) or kana (とともに) — both are common; kanji looks slightly more formal.
Sense 1: "together with" someone or something
This is the closest to plain English "with." It marks a companion or partner in an action:
モチは仲間とともに新しい店を始めた。
モチは なかまと ともに あたらしい みせを はじめた。
Mochi started a new shop together with his friends.
Here とともに is interchangeable with と一緒に in meaning, but it sounds more written or ceremonial — you'd see it in a speech or a news article, not a casual chat.
Sense 2: "as ... also" — change in step with change
This is the sense N3 learners most need to nail. As one thing changes, another changes along with it. Crucially, this sense needs a change verb (変わる, 増える, 減る, 落ちる, 成長する…) in the main clause — something that moves.
年を取るとともに、体力が落ちてきた。
としを とると ともに、たいりょくが おちて きた。
As I've gotten older, my stamina has declined.
Verb 年を取る + とともに; main clause has a change verb 落ちる.
弟は成長するとともに、口数が減っていった。
おとうとは せいちょうすると ともに、くちかずが へって いった。
As my little brother grew up, he became less talkative.
Sense 3: "both A and B" (formal)
When you want to present two qualities or roles a person/thing holds at once, とともに links them. The first part typically ends in である (for nouns/な-adjectives) or a plain form:
彼は会社の責任者であるとともに、一人の親でもある。
かれは かいしゃの せきにんしゃで あると ともに、ひとりの おやでも ある。
He is the person in charge at the company, as well as being a parent.
である + とともに = 'both A and B.'
This sense overlaps with 〜一方（で） but とともに stresses that both are simultaneously true rather than contrasting them.
Common mistakes
- Treating と共に as casual. と共に / とともに is formal and written. For everyday speech, use 〜と一緒に: 友だちと一緒に行く, not 友だちとともに行く in a chat.
- Sense 2 without a change verb. The "as ... also" meaning needs a verb of change in the main clause. 時代とともに好きだ is wrong; you need something like 時代とともに変わる.
- Using を with the verb form. It's V(dictionary) + とともに (年を取るとともに), never 年を取ることをともに.
- Confusing senses 1 and 2. With a person it means "together with"; with a noun/verb of change it means "along with the change." 家族とともに = with family (sense 1); 成長とともに = along with growth (sense 2).
Quick recap
- とともに (と共に) = "together with," "along with a change," or "both A and B."
- Attaches to a noun or a dictionary-form verb (sense 3 often after である).
- Formal/written; casual equivalent is と一緒に.
- Sense 2 ("as ... also") needs a change verb in the main clause.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of とともに across its three senses.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N3 〜とともに drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between とともに and と一緒に?
They can both mean 'together with,' but とともに (と共に) is formal and written, used in speeches, news, and essays. と一緒に is the everyday spoken form. For 'as one thing changes, another changes,' use とともに — と一緒に does not carry that meaning.
Does とともに attach to verbs?
Yes — use the dictionary form: 年を取るとともに ('as one ages'). For the 'both A and B' sense it follows である or a plain form: 親であるとともに.
When do I need a change verb with とともに?
In sense 2 ('as A, B also changes'), the main clause must contain a verb of change such as 変わる, 増える, 減る, or 落ちる: 時代とともに価値観が変わる.
Is 共 written in kanji or kana?
Both と共に and とともに are correct and common. The kanji form looks slightly more formal, but they read and mean the same thing.