かたがた

Partly for (the purpose of), In addition to, Along with, By the way, And also to, Incidentally, While

婚約こんやくの報告ほうこくかたがた、お父様とうさまとお母様かあさまに会あいに行いきます。

I'm going to see her father and mother, partly to tell them about our engagement.

Explanation

「Nかたがた」 means 'and also' or 'combined with'. When you go to visit someone, you use the occasion to take care of another courteous matter besides the main purpose. It appears in formal business letters and courtesy calls: 「本日はお礼かたがた、近況のご報告に伺いました」 (I have come today to thank you and also to report on how things are going). The noun is usually 「ご挨拶」, 「お礼」, 「お見舞い」, 「ご報告」 or 「散歩」, and the ending is a verb of going, such as 「伺う」, 「訪ねる」 or 「参る」. It is very polite and respectful.

Mixed up with

「〜かたがた」: the most elegant; for formal business and courtesy visits (thanks or greetings plus a visit).

「〜がてら」: everyday speech; doing something along the way during a walk, shopping, etc., e.g. 「散歩がてらパンを買いに行く」.

「〜ついでに」: casual; clear main and side matter, a small thing done in passing; not for a formal visit to a superior.

「〜かたわら」: doing a main and a side occupation over a long time, e.g. running a company while writing.

Easily confused withかたがた・がてら・かたわら: the difference ›

Examples

妊娠にんしんの報告ほうこくかたがた、相手あいての両親りょうしんの家いえを訪たずねた。
I visited my partner’s parents, partly for the purpose of letting them know about the pregnancy.
お礼れいかたがた、そちらにお伺うかがいをしたいと思おもっています。
I would like to come visit you, partly for the purpose of thanking you.
恩師おんしの訪問ほうもん：「本日ほんじつは当時とうじのお礼れいかたがた、卒業そつぎょうして以来いらいどうしているかをご報告ほうこくしに訪たずねさせていただきました。」
Visiting a former teacher: 'I have come today to thank you for those days, and also to tell you how I have been since graduating.'
挨拶状あいさつじょう：「まずは右みぎご挨拶あいさつかたがたお知しらせまで。」
Greeting card: 'This brief note is to greet you and to inform you of the above.'
結婚けっこんの報告ほうこくかたがた、妻つまの兄弟きょうだいの家いえを訪たずねました。
I visited my wife's sibling's house partly for the purpose of announcing our marriage.
同おなじ会社かいしゃで働はたらく上司じょうしへのメール：「ご挨拶あいさつかたがた訪問ほうもんをさせて頂いただきたいのですが、明日あしたのご都合つごうはいかがでしょうか。」
Email to a superior in the same company: 'I would like to pay you a visit, partly to say hello. Would tomorrow be convenient for you?'
同おなじ会社かいしゃで働はたらく上司じょうしへのメール：「まずはお礼れいかたがたご挨拶あいさつ申もうし上あげます。」
Email to a superior in the same company: 'Let me first thank you, and greet you at the same time.'
恩師おんしの田中たなか先生せんせいの家いえを、お見舞みまいかたがた訪問ほうもんしました。
I visited my former teacher Mr. Tanaka at his home, partly to see how he was doing during his illness.