STRUCTURE
V-ます stem＋つつ
①同時＝ながら の書き言葉版 ②逆接＝「～のに」。文中で節をつなぐ
HOW TO USE IT
- Verb ます-stem + つつ: 見つつ, 考えつつ. つつ joins two clauses, so another clause always follows つつ.
- Meaning 1: two actions at the same time (while ~ing). It means the same as ながら, but つつ is written, more formal style.
- Meaning 2: "even though ~, still ~", usually with 知る, 分かる, 思う. The form つつも is common. ながら also works in this sense.
- Unlike ～つつある: つつある ends the sentence as the predicate and shows a change in progress.
WATCH OUT
×景気は少しずつよくなりつつ。
○景気は少しずつよくなりつつある。
つつ cannot end a sentence. To say "is gradually changing", use ～つつある.
×歩くつつ、音楽を聞いた。
○歩きつつ、音楽を聞いた。
つつ follows the ます-stem (歩き), not the dictionary form.
Examples
無理だと分かりつつ、つい期待してしまう。
むりだとわかりつつ、ついきたいしてしまう。
Even knowing it's impossible, I can't help hoping.
早く寝ようと思いつつ、毎晩遅くまでスマホを見てしまう。
はやくねようとおもいつつ、まいばんおそくまでスマホをみてしまう。
Even though I mean to sleep early, I end up on my phone late every night.
窓の外の景色を楽しみつつ、電車の旅を続けた。
まどのそとのけしきをたのしみつつ、でんしゃのたびをつづけた。
Enjoying the view outside the window, I continued my train journey.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
Practise ～つつ with drills and review
Start free with N5. N2 drills, audio and review are in JLPT Pro.
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