～ながらに (～nagara ni)
Explanation
Expresses a state or condition continuing just as it is (e.g. 'from birth', 'while crying', 'in the old way').
Formation
Common set phrases: 生まれながらに, 涙ながらに, 昔ながらに, 子供ながらに, etc.
Detailed Explanation
The ～ながらに grammar point is used to indicate a condition that remains unchanged from some starting point or in a certain manner. It appears in set phrases such as 生まれながらに (from birth), 涙ながらに (while crying), 昔ながらに (in the old/original way), 子供ながらに (even though [still] a child), etc.
Examples
彼女は生まれながらにして優れた音感を持っている。
Kanojo wa umare nagara ni shite sugureta onkan o motte iru.
She has had an excellent sense of pitch from birth.
彼は子供ながらに大人の会話を理解していた。
Kare wa kodomo nagara ni otona no kaiwa o rikaishite ita.
Even though he was just a child, he understood adult conversations.
彼女は涙ながらに真実を訴えた。
Kanojo wa namida nagara ni shinjitsu o uttaeta.
She pleaded the truth while in tears.
私たちは昔ながらに伝わる祭りを大切にしている。
Watashi-tachi wa mukashi nagara ni tsutawaru matsuri o taisetsu ni shite iru.
We cherish the traditional festival that has been passed down unchanged from old times.
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.