Ahead of Christmas, more and more fathers can be seen in toy departments picking out presents while picturing their children's happy faces.
転んでけがをした足をかばいつつ走り続け、完走した鈴木選手に、観客から温かい拍手が送られた。
Protecting a foot he had injured in a fall, Suzuki kept running and finished the race, and the spectators gave him a warm round of applause.
この会議では各部署の問題点を検討しつつ、今後の方針を決定していきたいと思います。
In this meeting, we would like to examine the problems of each department while deciding on our future policy.
趣味の園芸教室で草花の育て方を学びつつ、仲間とのおしゃべりを楽しんでいます。
I am learning how to grow flowers in my hobby gardening class while enjoying chatting with my classmates.
What people say in everyday speech
〜ながら
As the grammar explanation says,「つつ」and「ながら」mean the same thing.「つつ」is the version preferred in news, weather reports, and written prose, while「ながら」is what people actually say in everyday conversation. To say "moving forward while picking up speed" in casual talk, you would simply use「ながら」, as in「スピード上げながら進んでる」. As soon as「つつ」turns up, you can tell someone is reading from a script (a news report, a speech, a written report); it does not appear in chats between friends.
Used to mean "throughout the whole range of a time or place," as in「1週間にわたって雨が降り続いた」(it kept raining for a whole week) and「高速道路は50キロにわたって渋滞している」(the expressway is jammed for 50 kilometers).
Connection N + にわたって／にわたり／にわたる／にわたった＋N
Examples
台風で電線が切れ、この町は全域にわたって停電した。
The typhoon cut the power lines, and the entire town lost power.
本日から約2週間にわたって、オリンピックが行われる。
Starting today, the Olympic Games will be held over about two weeks.
長年にわたる研究が実り、ついに新製品が完成した。
Years of research bore fruit, and the new product was finally completed.
彼は政治・経済・外交など多方面にわたって活躍している。
He is active in many fields, including politics, economics, and diplomacy.
What people say in everyday speech
〜ずっと／〜全部で
「にわたって」is the formal way to describe "the whole range of time or space" in news and reports, as in「広範囲にわたって」and「2週間にわたって」. In everyday speech, to say "it's been raining over a wide area," people would normally say「広い範囲でずっと雨降ってる」or just「あちこちで雨降ってる」. They would not go out of their way to use「にわたって」, which has the feel of a statistical report.
Means "from A to B," and is used to give a rough range of time or place, as in「今週から来週にかけて雨の日が多い」(there will be many rainy days from this week into next week) and「渋谷から新宿にかけてたくさんの専門学校がある」(there are many vocational schools from Shibuya to Shinjuku).
Connection N1 + から + N2 + にかけて
Examples
本日、九州から四国地方にかけて、梅雨入りしました。
Today, the rainy season began in the area from Kyushu to Shikoku.
この動物はアジアからアフリカにかけて、群れで暮らしている。
This animal lives in herds in the region from Asia to Africa.
12月中旬から年末にかけて、町は買い物客でにぎわう。
From mid-December to the end of the year, the town is bustling with shoppers.
今年流行のブラウスは肩から腕にかけてレースがついているのが特徴です。
This year's fashionable blouses are characterized by lace running from the shoulders down the arms.
What people say in everyday speech
〜から〜まで
「から〜にかけて」stresses a "rough, approximate range" and is a typical phrasing in weather forecasts and news. In everyday speech, people use the plain「から〜まで」for ranges of time or place, as in「九州から四国まで、波が高くなってる」. They don't bother to distinguish between a precise「まで」and a vague「にかけて」; that kind of nuance matters only in written or broadcast style.
Used when something else happens at the same time as a main event (for example, road closures accompanying road construction), or to express a change.
Connection N + にともなって／にともない／にともなう＋N
Examples
本社移転にともなって、最新のコンピューターシステムが導入されることになった。
With the relocation of the head office, the latest computer system will be introduced.
議員の任期満了にともない、総選挙が行われた。
Upon the expiration of the legislators' terms, a general election was held.
一人暮らしは自由だが、それにともない、責任も生じる。
Living alone gives you freedom, but responsibility comes with it.
時代の変化にともなって、人々の考え方も変わってきた。
As the times change, people's ways of thinking are changing too.
What people say in everyday speech
〜で／それで
「にともない」is a connective common in news and official notices, meaning "as A happens, B also happens," and it appears in formal announcements such as「本社移転にともない」. In everyday speech, a cause-and-effect link like this is usually made with「〜で」or「それで」, as in「台風が近づいてきて、警報が出てるよ」. People simply connect the two clauses with the te-form instead of using the official-notice tone of「にともない」.
Conveys, based on objective data, that there is a high possibility of a dangerous situation arising. Mostly used in news, newspapers, and reports.
Connection V-る／V-ない ／N の + おそれがある
Examples
噴火のおそれがありますので、避難してください。
There is a risk of an eruption, so please evacuate.
この地震による津波のおそれはありません。
This earthquake poses no risk of a tsunami.
この化粧品はアレルギーを引き起こすおそれがあるので、販売中止になった。
This cosmetic product may cause allergic reactions, so sales have been suspended.
災害時には携帯電話がつながらないおそれがありますから、別の連絡方法を考えておいてください。
In a disaster, mobile phones may not connect, so please think of other ways to contact each other in advance.
夕方から雷が発生し、それにともない局地的に大雨が降るおそれがあります。
From evening, thunder and lightning are expected, and heavy rain may fall locally along with it.
What people say in everyday speech
〜かもしれない
「おそれがある」is the specialized phrasing used in news and reports when predicting a risk from objective data. Its tone is calm and restrained, with the weight of an official warning. To express the same worry in everyday speech, people use the plain「〜かもしれない」, as in「強い雨降るかも」or「事故起きるかもしれないよ」. It sounds much more relaxed and conversational than「おそれがあります」; used in a casual chat,「おそれがある」would sound as if you were reading a news script.
Means "together with ~" or "not only ~ but also." It is also used to mean "as ~ occurs, ... also occurs," or to express a change.
Connection V-る／N + とともに
Examples
彼は医療ボランティアとして現地の医師とともに日夜病気の治療を行っている。
As a medical volunteer, he treated patients day and night together with the local doctors.
大雨警報が出ています。洪水とともに、土砂崩れにも十分な注意が必要です。
A heavy rain warning has been issued. Please take care not only of flooding but also of landslides.
宅地開発にはそこに住んでいる人々の生活環境を整えるとともに、自然環境を守ることが求められる。
Developing residential land requires improving the living environment of local residents and, at the same time, protecting the natural environment.
科学技術の進歩とともに、宇宙の謎が明らかになっていくだろう。
As technology advances, the mysteries of the universe will gradually be unraveled.
What people say in everyday speech
〜も／〜と一緒に
「とともに」is a connective common in news and reports, meaning "together with ~ / along with ~," as in「強風とともに河川の増水にもご注意ください」. In everyday speech, when warning someone about several things, people usually just line them up with「も」, as in「強い風も気をつけてね」, or use「と一緒に」to express accompaniment. This sounds more natural, like a friendly reminder rather than official warning language.
Means "(not yet possible now, but) as soon as ~, immediately ..."
Connection V-ます／N + 次第
Examples
ただ今、全線で運転を見合わせておりますが、情報が入り次第、お伝えいたします。
All lines are currently suspended. We will let you know as soon as we have any information.
サンプルができ次第、お持ちしますので、ぜひご検討ください。
As soon as the sample is ready, we will send it to you, so please be sure to take a look.
ご注文の品が入荷次第、お届けいたしますので、しばらくお待ちください。
As soon as the goods you ordered arrive, we will deliver them to you, so please wait a little longer.
現在移動中ですが、現地に到着次第、連絡を入れます。
I'm on my way now. As soon as I get there, I'll contact you.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たらすぐ
「次第」is a formal connective meaning "as soon as ~, immediately ...," and is common in news broadcasts, business emails, and announcements, as in「中継がつながり次第、お伝えします」. For the same meaning in everyday speech,「〜たらすぐ」is used more often, as in「つながったらすぐ教えるね」, which is much more relaxed and conversational than「つながり次第」. When「次第」shows up, you can usually tell it is a formal setting or a written notice.
Key vocabulary (from the model text)
気圧 きあつ
atmospheric pressure
瞬間風速 しゅんかんふうそく
instantaneous wind speed
暴風域 ぼうふういき
storm zone (area hit by the typhoon's strong winds)