Structure
Verb［ます］+ つつ
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Formal
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硬い
About つつ
つつ is a particle in Japanese that appears after the ます-stem form of verbs. When used, it indicates that (B) is an action that is happening at the same time as (A). This usually translates simply as 'while (A), (B)'.
つつ is a formal grammar structure and will appear in writing more than in speech.
つつ is a formal grammar structure and will appear in writing more than in speech.
- 環境に悪いと知りつつ、レジ袋を使い続けている。While I know that it is bad for the environment, I continue to use plastic bags.
- インターネットでレシピを見つつ、料理をしたので今日の晩御飯は美味しいはずです。Dinner tonight should be delicious since I cooked while looking at a recipe on the internet.
Caution - Unlike ながら, つつ is used more often when the (A) action is an ongoing state, rather than an actual physical action that involves movement. ながら may be used for both physical motions and states.
- 走りながら携帯でゲームをしていたら、電柱にぶつかった。I bumped into a telephone pole because I was gaming on my phone while I was walking. (Natural Japanese)
- 走りつつ携帯でゲームをしていたら、電柱にぶつかった。I bumped into a telephone pole because I was gaming on my phone while I was walking. (Physical action, unnatural Japanese)
- 仕事に関係ないことを考えながら仕事をしていたら、大きなミスをしてしまった。I made a big mistake at work because I was working while thinking about something unrelated to work. (Natural Japanese)
- 仕事に関係ないことを考えつつ仕事をしていたら、大きなミスをしてしまった。I made a big mistake at work because I was working while thinking about something unrelated to work. (Non-physical, natural Japanese)
Synonyms
Examples
ツバメは飛行しつつ、寝ることができる。
The swallow can sleep while flying.
参加者は南極点遠征のために食料配給を準備しつつ、毎日のスケジュールを覚えたりする。
While preparing food rations for the south pole expedition, participants were memorizing things like the daily schedule.
老人は沈む太陽の景色を見つつ、懐かしい青春を思い出した。
While watching the scenery of the setting sun, the elderly man recalled his nostalgic youth.
布団を敷きつつテレビに見入ってしまった。
While laying out my futon, I got transfixed by the TV.
連載コラムを多数執筆しつつ、長編小説も書いてしまうんだからすごいね。
That's amazing that you are writing a number of serial columns for the newspaper while also writing a full-length novel.
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Online
～つつ in action
NihongoDayByDay
～うちに VS ～つつ
Nihongoの森
Offline
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 330
新完全マスター文法 N2
Page 13-6
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つつ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
Eroliene
ツバメは飛行しつつ、寝ることができる。
Based on how the grammar point was explained, this example sentence seems super, mega wrong.
Caution - Unlike ながら, つつ is used more often when the (A) action is an ongoing state, rather than an actual physical action that involves movement.
Flight is an active, physical activity which involves movement. The only explanation I can fathom is a nuance wherein the swallow being asleep makes it a non-active participant in its own flying, downgrading its flight to the “ongoing state” status of hurtling through the air.
This is some hefty nuance to be dropped in unexplained, so it feels more likely that it is an error. If this is in fact hefty nuance, please confirm! My mind would indeed be blown.
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