Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 3: 15/17

つ (Conjunctive)
two contrasting actions

Structure
Verb［ます］+ つ + (Antonym) Verb［ます］+ つ
Verb［ます］+ つ + (Antonym) Verb［ます］+ つ + の + Noun
Verb［ます］+ つ + Verb［られる］ーる + つ
Verb［ます］+ つ + Verb［られる］ーる + つ + の + Noun

行きつ戻りつ - going back and forth
浮きつ沈みつ - rising and falling (bobbing)
見えつ隠れつ - coming in and out of sight
とつおいつ (from 取りつ置きつ) - wavering between
矯めつ眇めつ - taking a good look
組んず解れつ - struggling with
抜きつ抜かれつ - neck-and-neck
持ちつ持たれつ - give-and-take
押しつ押されつ - pull and be pulled
追いつ追われつ - lead changing many times
差しつ差されつ - taking turns filling cups
Structure Legend  
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • [Used to express that two actions represented by contrasting verbs are alternating in a certain event]
  • [Nowadays, it is limited to some set expressions]
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彼（かれ）はドアの前（まえ）をしばらく不安（ふあん）げに行（い）きつ戻（もど）りつしていたすえに入（はい）ることにした。
After some time, he finally decided to go inside after nervously going back and forth in front of the door.
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    • アリとアリマキは持（も）ちつ持（も）たれつの関係（かんけい）にある。
    Ants and aphids have a give-and-take relationship.
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    • 老人（ろうじん）は小枝（こえだ）の浮（う）きつ沈（しず）みつを眺（なが）めながら、海（うみ）の匂（にお）いを楽（たの）しんだ。
    The old man enjoyed the smell of the sea while watching the sinking and rising (bobbing) twig.
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    The つ Particle
    Imabi
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    Page 39
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    Page 104
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