〜ついでに: 'While You're At It' (Meaning + Examples)
What it means
ついでに lets you tack a small extra action onto something you were going to do anyway. You head out for one purpose, and since you're already there / already doing it, you take care of something else too.
The key is the relationship between the two actions:
- A = the main thing you set out to do (the real reason).
- B = the bonus action you slip in because the opportunity is right there.
ヤッタンは買い物に行くついでに、郵便局に寄った。
ヤッタンは かいものに いく ついでに、ゆうびんきょくに よった。
While Yattan was going shopping, he stopped by the post office.
Main action = going shopping; the post office is the add-on.
散歩のついでにパンを買った。
さんぽの ついでに パンを かった。
On my walk, I bought some bread (while I was at it).
Noun + のついでに.
モチは図書館へ行ったついでに、カフェでコーヒーを飲んだ。
モチは としょかんへ いった ついでに、カフェで コーヒーを のんだ。
Since Mochi went to the library, she grabbed a coffee at a café while she was at it.
How to form it
ついでに attaches to a verb (dictionary or た-form) or to a noun with の.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary) | Vる + ついでに | 出かけるついでに (while heading out) |
| Verb (past) | Vた + ついでに | 出かけたついでに (while I was out) |
| Noun | N + の + ついでに | 買い物のついでに (while shopping) |
Both the dictionary form and the た-form are common. The た-form leans a little more toward "since I had (already) done A," but in everyday use they overlap heavily, and either works for "while I'm at it."
More examples
先生は仕事で大阪に行くついでに、昔の友だちに会うそうだ。
せんせいは しごとで おおさかに いく ついでに、むかしの ともだちに あうそうだ。
I hear the teacher is going to Osaka for work and will meet an old friend while he's there.
弟はコンビニに行くついでに、私のジュースも買ってきてくれた。
おとうとは コンビニに いく ついでに、わたしの ジュースも かってきて くれた。
My little brother went to the convenience store and picked up a juice for me too while he was at it.
You can also start a sentence with ついでに on its own, meaning "and while we're at it / and on the same occasion":
部屋を掃除した。ついでに、窓もきれいに拭いた。
へやを そうじした。ついでに、まども きれいに ふいた。
I cleaned the room. And while I was at it, I wiped the windows clean too.
Sentence-initial ついでに links to the previous action.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up which action is the main one. A (the verb before ついでに) is the real reason you acted; B is the extra. Saying 郵便局に寄るついでに買い物に行った flips it — it now means going shopping was the bonus, not the post office. Put the main errand before ついでに.
- Using it when B is just as important as A. ついでに implies B is a minor, convenient add-on. If both actions are full, planned goals, use a plain connector like 〜て or 〜たり-style listing instead.
- Forgetting の after a noun. It's 散歩のついでに, not 散歩ついでに. Verbs attach directly (行くついでに), but nouns need の.
- Confusing it with あいだに / うちに. Those mark a time window in which something happens (〜うちに). ついでに is about taking the opportunity of one action to do another — purpose, not timing.
Quick recap
- 〜ついでに = do B while you're already doing A ("while I'm at it").
- A is the main reason; B is the convenient extra.
- Form: Vる/Vた + ついでに, or N + の + ついでに.
- Sentence-initial ついでに = "and while we're at it."
Your turn
Choose the natural use of 〜ついでに and the correct main/extra action order.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N3 〜ついでに drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between ついでに and the て-form for joining actions?
The て-form simply links two actions ('do A and do B'), treating them as roughly equal. ついでに adds nuance: A is the main purpose, and B is a small extra you do because the opportunity is already there.
Do I use the dictionary form or the past form before ついでに?
Both work. Vる + ついでに (行くついでに) and Vた + ついでに (行ったついでに) are both common. The past form leans slightly toward 'since I had already done A,' but the meaning is essentially the same.
Does ついでに need の after a noun?
Yes. With a noun you say N + のついでに (散歩のついでに). Verbs attach directly with no の (散歩するついでに).
Can ついでに start a sentence?
Yes. Sentence-initial ついでに means 'and while we're at it,' linking a new add-on action to whatever you just described: 部屋を掃除した。ついでに、窓も拭いた。