Structure
Verb[ます]+ つつある
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Formal
使用域
硬い
About つつある
When the particle つつ 'while doing' is combined with ある 'to be', it indicates that someone or something is in the ongoing process of (A). (A) will be a verb in its ます-stem form. This formal grammar structure primarily highlights that (A) is slowly but surely continuing or changing. This 'change' is often in regard to an increase, decrease, expansion, contraction, or something similar.
This pattern can be translated simply as 'to be (A)ing'.
This pattern can be translated simply as 'to be (A)ing'.
- 毎年、年金の受給額が減りつつあるので、生活に困っている高齢者が増えてきている。Every year, more and more elderly people are having trouble making ends meet because their pension benefits are decreasing.
- 日本では物価が上がりつつある。Prices in general are rising in Japan.
- 最近はインターネットを使って買い物ができるので、わざわざお店に行って買い物をする人が減りつつある。These days, people can shop using the Internet, so fewer people are going out of their way to go to stores to shop.
Caution - Compared to ている, つつある tends not to be used in relation to noticably physical motions, but rather highlights actions that indicate an ongoing state of change (such as the blooming of a flower), rather than simply 'continuing'. This is especially true for verbs that have an obvious end or completion point.
- 彼はりんごを食べている。He is eating an apple. (Natural Japanese)
- 彼はりんごを食べつつある。He is eating an apple. (Unnatural Japanese)
Synonyms
Examples
アフリカの野生動物の数が減りつつあるのは残念だ。
It is a pity that the number of wild animals in Africa is decreasing.
近年、経済的にはA国とB国の協力関係は強化されつつあるが、軍事的には国境付近において小規模紛争が絶えない。
In recent years, the economical relationship between country A and country B is strengthening. However, when it comes to the military, small-scale conflicts close to the border do not cease.
地球温暖化のために砂漠に変わりつつある国がある。また、海に沈みつつある島国もある。
There are countries that are changing into deserts due to global warming. In addition, there are also island countries that are sinking into the ocean.
70年代中、石油の価格が急に上がりつつあったので、オランダでは自転車の使用が広まった。
In the 70's, the price of oil was rising rapidly so riding bicycles became a common practice in the Netherlands.
おかげさまで、病気は治りつつあります。
Fortunately, my disease is healing.
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Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 332
新完全マスター文法、N2
Page 13-5
Quartet II
Page 9
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
Page 542
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つつある – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
Myria
I hope this is the right place to add these questions.
Regarding the sentence
アフリカの野生動物の数がへりつつあるのは残念だ。I answered へっている and was marked wrong. I feel like a hint is warranted here. I usually review with translations/hints off so I went with the first thing that came to my mind. Usually bunpro’s hint/shake system allows me to get to the answer it wants, but somehow it didn’t for this review.
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