Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 3/18

つつも

Even while ~ing, Even though ~ing, Despite ~ing, Although ~ing

Structure

Verb［ます］+ つつ（も）

Details

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    硬い

About つつ(も)

In addition to the base meaning of つつ 'while doing (A)' when used by itself, the addition of も simply adds the nuance of 'even'. This is often translated as 'even while doing (A), (B)', or 'although doing (A), (B)'. (B) will almost always be something that is somehow contradictory to (A).
Like つつ, つつも will appear after the ます-stem of a verb that is the original ongoing action.
  • 一人(ひとり)で洞窟(どうくつ)に入(はい)るのは危(あぶ)ないと知(し)りつつも、入(はい)ってしまった。
    Despite knowing that going in a cave alone is dangerous, I went in.
  • 初(はじ)めてのライブで緊張(きんちょう)しつつもものすごく楽(たの)しめました。
    Despite being very nervous at my first concert, I was able to enjoy it.
Caution - Like つつ, つつも will usually include a non-physical action in (A), such as reading, listening, looking, thinking, etc. (B) may be either physical or non-physical. Also, in the same way as つつ is similar to ながら, つつも is similar to ながらも.
  • 彼(かれ)は足(あし)を骨折(こっせつ)していながらも、大会(たいかい)に出場(しゅつじょう)しようとしたところ、監督(かんとく)に止(と)められた。
    Despite having a broken leg, he tried to enter the tournament, but was stopped by the coach. (Natural Japanese)
  • 彼(かれ)は足(あし)を骨折(こっせつ)していつつも、大会(たいかい)に出場(しゅつじょう)しようとしたところ、監督(かんとく)に止(と)められた。
    Even while having a broken leg, he tried to enter the tournament, but was stopped by the coach. (Physical action, unnatural Japanese)
  • なんかこの話(はなし)は怪(あや)しいなと思(おも)いながらも、彼(かれ)のことを信(しん)じてみた。
    Despite thinking, 'this sounds fishy,' I believed him. (Natural Japanese)
  • なんかこの話(はなし)は怪(あや)しいなと思(おも)いつつも、彼(かれ)のことを信(しん)じてみた。
    Even though I thought that the story was fishy, I believed him. (Non-physical, natural Japanese)
Despite the similarities, it will be important to remember that つつ only appears with verbs, while ながら can be used after almost any type of word.

Examples

  • 南極点(なんきょくてん)遠征(えんせい)はよく備(そな)えつつも、失敗(しっぱい)した。

    Despite (everyone) preparing well, the south pole expedition failed.

  • 現代人(げんだいじん)は朝(あさ)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べるのは重要(じゅうよう)だと知(し)りつつも、そうしようとすることを拒否(きょひ)している。

    Modern people, despite knowing that eating breakfast is important, refuse to do so.

  • 主人公(しゅじんこう)はこの地下(ちか)牢(ろう)に入(はい)るのは危(あぶ)ないと思(おも)いつつも、また入(はい)った。

    Despite thinking that entering the dungeon was dangerous, the protagonist still went inside.

  • 危(あぶ)ないことだと知(し)りつつも、科学者(かがくしゃ)は知識(ちしき)のために、命(いのち)を掛(か)けつつ実験(じっけん)する場合(ばあい)もある。

    Despite knowing that it is dangerous, there are cases when scientists, for the sake of knowledge, carry out experiments while putting their lives on the line.

  • 斜(なな)めになりつつもなんとか持(も)ちこたえたジェンガ。

    Despite leaning, the Jenga tower somehow held out.

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