第231課: The Particle ながら II: ながら（も）& ながらに（して）
In this second installment concerning the particle ながら, we learn about its second most common usage: showing contradiction.
Contradiction
The particle ながら, when used to show contradiction, follows the same restraints on clauses as when it shows simultaneous action. This is because the contradiction involves the same subject and because the two parts of the contradiction still happen in the same time span.
Unlike its primary usage to show non-contradictory simultaneous action, this use of ながら can attach to pretty much anything. You can find it directly after nouns, adjectival nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs.
| Affirmative | Negative | |
| Nouns | N （であり）+ ながら（も） | Nではない + ながら（も） |
| Adjectival Nouns | Adj. N（であり）＋ながら（も） | Adj. Nではない＋ながら（も） |
| Adjectives | Adj. +ながら（も） | Drop /i/ + くない＋ながら（も） |
| Adverbs | Adv. + ながら（も） | |
| Verbs | Stem + ながら（も） | V +ない → ず・ぬ ＋ ながら（も） |
The productivity of all these combinations will not be equal in the real world. ながら（も） is most frequently used with verbs, and for everything else it may be follow, creative license is required. Due to the fact that this pattern is more so employed in the written language, you will need to explore this grammar on a case-by-case basis. There are many set phrases that utilize this, some of which are very important. For instance, 残念だ means “to be unfortunate,” and when used with ながら as 残念ながら, it’s used to mean “unfortunately…”
The addition of the particle も in this expression is only used for emphatic purposes. As such , normally, ながら and ながらも are interchangeable.
1. 彼女はあんなにいろいろ苦労しながらも、それを苦にしていない。
Even though she’s going through that many troubles, she isn’t worrying about them.
2. 湯沢さんは大企業の社長（であり）ながら（も）、静かな落ち着いた物腰が印象的でした。
Though Mr. Yuzawa is the president of a large corporation, his quiet and calm demeanor is impressive.
3. 真由子は初心者（であり）ながら（も）、潜在能力はかなりあると思います。
Even though Mayuko is a beginner, I think that her skills are considerably good.
4. しかしながら、予算案はまだ修正の余地がある。
Nevertheless, the budget still has plenty of room for improvement.
5. すでに一月を過ごしてしまったのですが、遅まきながら初詣に出かけました。
I’ve already let January pass, but I belatedly went out to my first shrine visit of the New Year.
6. 讃岐うどんとは言いながらも、ほとんどは外国産の小麦で作られている。
Although we call it “Sanuki Udon,” most of it is made with foreign manufactured wheat.
7. 彼女はダイエットしていると言いながら（も）ケーキばかり食べている。
Although she says that she’s on a diet, all she eats is cake.
8. 恥ずかしながら、自己紹介です。
As embarrassing as this is, this is my self-introduction.
Form Note: Note that with the adjective 恥ずかしい, the final /i/ is dropped.
9.｛ 我・自分｝ながら情けない。
This is deplorable even if I do say so myself.
10. ゾンビーは死んでいながらも、生前と同じ行動を繰り返します。
Zombies, though dead, repeat the same actions as when they were alive.
11. ゆっくりながら（も）、完成に近づいています。
Although slowly, I’m approaching completion.
12. 残念ながら、記録は更新できませんでした。
Unfortunately, I was unable to break the record.
13. 憲太郎君は失敗するとわかりながら（も）、そのままやってしまう性格だ。
Kentaro has the kind of personality of doing something as is even if he understands that he’ll fail.
14. 神が赦さない罪だと知っていながらも、故意に続けていく。
To continue purposely doing something whilst knowing it is a sin God does not condone.
15. 社員が不正を知りながら勧誘していたことがわかりました。
It has been discovered that company employees were soliciting whilst knowing of the illegality.
16. 狭いながらも、自分のアパートを手に入れることができました。
While small, I’ve obtained my own apartment.
17. 貧しいながらも、穏やかに暮らすことができます。
Once can live calmly live whilst being poor.
18. 及ばずながら、一生懸命やります。
I’ll do it to the best of my ability, as poor as that may be.
19. 完全ではないながらも、英語の綴りと音にはある程度規則があります。
Although not absolute, there are rules to some degree to the spelling and sounds of English.
もさることながら
もさることながら is a set phrase that follows nouns that states that the one quality is of course true, but a second quality is also just as so.
20. 中華料理は味もさることながら、健康にいいですよ。
It goes without saying that Chinese food is tasty, but it’s also good for you.
21. 富士山は紅葉もさることながら、冬景色も綺麗です。
The autumn leaves of Mt. Fuji go without saying, but its winter-scape is also pretty.
22. この車は燃費の良さもさることながら、ネット上での評判も高かったです。
The gas mileage of this car goes without saying, but its internet review was high as well.
ながらに（して）
In the patterns ながらに（して）or ながら（の）, the particle ながら may also mean “as” as in staying “as is” in a certain condition. Just as is the case with the past usage, instances of this meaning ought to be learned on a case-by-case basis.
23. すべての人は生まれながらに平等である。
All men are born equal.
24. 田中さんは家に居ながらにして、月に70万円くらいの収入を得ている。
Mr. Tanaka earns an income of approximately 700,000 yen a month whilst staying at home.
25. 村民は昔ながらの伝統を守り続けている。
The villages continue protecting traditions as they were long ago.
26. 彼は子供ながらにしっかりしている。
He’s quite level-headed despite being a kid.
27. 夏子は、自分の目の前で起こった悲惨な出来事を涙ながらに語りました。
Natsuko tearfully spoke of the tragic events that transpired in front of her eyes.
28. いつもながら、彼氏の料理はとてもうまい。
My boyfriend’s cooking is very delicious as always.
29. この会社は昔ながらの製法で豆腐を作っている。
This company makes tofu with traditional methods.
30. 人間には、生まれながらにして貧富の差がある。
Humans are born with a disparity of wealth.