At a glance
～ながらに means "just as one is" or "in the state of". It shows a state that stays unchanged, and it is used mostly in a small number of fixed, formal expressions.
[Verb stem] + ながらに(して)
[Noun] + ながらに
[Verb stem / Noun] + ながらの + [Noun]
彼は自分の気持ちを涙ながらに語った。 He spoke of his feelings in tears.
How to form it
ながらに attaches to a limited set of verb stems and nouns. Learn them as set phrases.
| Attaches to | Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem | 生まれながらに(して) | from birth, by nature |
| Verb stem | 居ながらにして | without leaving where one is |
| Noun | 涙ながらに | in tears, while crying |
| Noun | 昔ながらの + noun | unchanged from the old days |
Before a noun, use ながらの: 生まれながらの才能 "natural talent". The register is formal and mostly written.