Back and forth, by turns: 〜つ〜つ
動詞ます形 + つ + 動詞ます形 + つ
Stem + つ + stem + つ: alternation or reciprocity (持ちつ持たれつ, 行きつ戻りつ, 抜きつ抜かれつ). A closed list, literary register; don't confuse it with つつ.
In short
〜つ〜つ pairs two opposite verbs, or a verb and its passive, to describe an alternation: 行きつ戻りつ (to go back and forth), 抜きつ抜かれつ (to overtake each other by turns), 持ちつ持たれつ (to help each other out). These are fixed expressions in a literary register, learnt like words.
- 近所の人とは、持ちつ持たれつの関係だ。きんじょのひととは、もちつもたれつのかんけいだ。With the neighbours, it's a give-and-take relationship.
- 彼は家の前を行きつ戻りつしながら、ベルを押すかどうか迷っていた。かれはいえのまえをいきつもどりつしながら、べるをおすかどうかまよっていた。He paced up and down in front of the house, wondering whether to ring the bell.
- 二台の車は、抜きつ抜かれつのレースを続けた。にだいのくるまは、ぬきつぬかれつのれーすをつづけた。The two cars kept up a race in which they overtook each other by turns.
The basics
つ is an old auxiliary of completion. Repeated after two verbs, it expresses rapid alternation: you do A, then B, then A… The two verbs are either opposites (行く／戻る) or the same verb in the active then the passive (抜く／抜かれる).
English often conveys the idea with “by turns”, “back and forth”, “give and take”, “pace up and down”.
He's pacing up and down.
- verb
- grammatical form
- 答えが出ないまま、彼の考えは行きつ戻りつしていた。こたえがでないまま、かれのかんがえはいきつもどりつしていた。Unable to find an answer, his thoughts kept going round in circles.
- 追いつ追われつの接戦の末、地元チームが勝った。おいつおわれつのせっせんのすえ、じもとちーむがかった。After a close match in which each team led by turns, the home side won.
The expressions to know
The list is closed. They're used with する, with の before a noun, or with だ at the end of a sentence.
| Expression | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 持ちつ持たれつ | helping each other, give and take | 持ちつ持たれつの関係 |
| 行きつ戻りつ | go back and forth, waver | 行きつ戻りつする |
| 抜きつ抜かれつ | overtake each other by turns | 抜きつ抜かれつのレース |
| 追いつ追われつ | chase and be chased | 追いつ追われつの接戦 |
| 差しつ差されつ | pour drinks for each other | 差しつ差されつ酒を飲む |
- 二人は差しつ差されつ、夜遅くまで酒を飲んだ。ふたりはさしつさされつ、よるおそくまでさけをのんだ。Pouring each other drinks, the two of them drank late into the night.
つ〜つ, たり〜たり, つつ
〜たり〜たり (N4) lists actions neutrally: 行ったり来たりする (to go back and forth) is the everyday equivalent of 行きつ戻りつする.
〜つつ (N2), with a single つつ, means “while” or “although” (知りつつ: while knowing). Nothing to do with the alternation of 〜つ〜つ.
- 彼は部屋の中を行ったり来たりしていた。かれはへやのなかをいったりきたりしていた。He was pacing up and down the room. (everyday register)
- 体に悪いと知りつつ、つい夜更かししてしまう。からだにわるいとしりつつ、ついよふかししてしまう。Even though I know it's bad for my health, I end up staying up late.
Common mistakes
- Making up new pairs (“×食べつ飲みつ”): only the fixed expressions exist.
- Confusing つ〜つ (alternation) with つつ (“while”).
- Forgetting the passive in 持ちつ持たれつ or 抜きつ抜かれつ: it's what creates the reciprocity.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Akita Line (Literature and poetry) of the Shinkansen.