While, even though: 〜つつ（も）
Verb (stem) + つつ ; Verb (stem) + つつも
Stem + つつ: “while…” (written ながら); stem + つつも: “even though I know…, yet…”. Written register; distinguish it from つつある.
In short
〜つつ has two uses. On its own, it's the written version of ながら: the same person does two things at once (“while…”). With も, 〜つつも becomes concessive: “even though I know…, although…”, often with 思う, 知る, 分かる. Written, literary register, speeches; in everyday speech, you say ながら.
- 川沿いの景色を楽しみつつ、ゆっくり歩いた。かわぞいのけしきをたのしみつつ、ゆっくりあるいた。I walked slowly, enjoying the riverside scenery.
- 体に悪いと知りつつも、たばこがやめられない。からだにわるいとしりつつも、たばこがやめられない。Even though I know it's bad for my health, I can't give up smoking.
- 返事を書かなければと思いつつ、もう一か月たってしまった。へんじをかかなければとおもいつつ、もういっかげつたってしまった。I kept thinking I had to reply, and now a whole month has gone by.
The basics
つつ plays the role of ながら in written language: two actions by the same person happen in parallel. You read it in novels, essays and official instructions.
With も, the idea of “at the same time” becomes a contrast: you know, you think, you recognise something… and yet you act otherwise. It's the ideal construction for admitting a weakness or a contradiction.
Even though I know it's bad for my health, I can't give up smoking.
- other
- verb
- grammatical form
- 彼は母の手紙を読みつつ、涙を流した。かれはははのてがみをよみつつ、なみだをながした。He wept as he read his mother's letter.
How to form it
Take the verb stem (the ます-form without ます) and add つつ or つつも. Both actions have the same subject. For concession, verbs of thinking dominate: 思いつつも, 知りつつも, 分かりつつも, 言いつつも.
| Verb | Form | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 楽しむ | 楽しみつつ | simultaneity |
| 注意する | 注意しつつ | simultaneity (instruction) |
| 思う | 思いつつも | concession |
| 知る | 知りつつも | concession |
- 安全に注意しつつ、作業を進めてください。あんぜんにちゅういしつつ、さぎょうをすすめてください。Please carry on with the work while paying attention to safety.
- 早く寝ようと思いつつも、夜中までスマホを見てしまった。はやくねようとおもいつつも、よなかまですまほをみてしまった。I meant to go to bed early, yet I ended up on my phone until the middle of the night.
つつ or ながら?
The meaning is the same; the register changes. ながら is used everywhere, spoken and written, and also combines with states (残念ながら, 小さいながら). つつ only follows verbs and sounds written, considered. In conversation between friends, つつ comes across as stilted.
| Sentence | Register |
|---|---|
| 音楽を聞きながら勉強する | neutral, spoken and written |
| 地元の意見を聞きつつ、計画を進める | written, report, speech |
| 悪いと知りながら／知りつつも | concession: neutral / written |
- 音楽を聞きながら、勉強する。おんがくをききながら、べんきょうする。I study while listening to music.
- 市は住民の意見を聞きつつ、計画を進めている。しはじゅうみんのいけんをききつつ、けいかくをすすめている。The city is pressing ahead with the plan while consulting residents.
Don't confuse it with つつある
つつある (N3) describes a change under way, progressing little by little: “to be in the process of”. It ends the sentence or describes a noun. つつ and つつも link two clauses. Same suffix, two different functions.
- 地球の気温は上がりつつある。ちきゅうのきおんはあがりつつある。The Earth's temperature is rising.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up つつ (“while”, “even though”) and つつある (“to be in the process of changing”).
- Using it in casual conversation: among friends, ながら is more natural.
- Switching subjects between the two parts: like ながら, つつ links two actions by the same person.
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 N2 point is on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line (Industry) of the Nagoya lines.