〜つつ / 〜つつも

tsutsu / tsutsu mo

while (doing); although, even while

Formation

Verb-stem + つつ / Verb-stem + つつも

Chinese meanings

一边；虽然

Chinese formation

动词ます形去ます＋つつ／つつも

Chinese usage

表示同时进行动作，或明知某事却仍然如此。

Chinese notes

つつも常表示让步；整体较书面。

Examples

Furigana

今年ことしの業ぎょう績せきを振ふり返かえりつつ、来らい年ねんの目もく標ひょうを考かんがえたい。
While looking back on this year's results, I'd like to think about next year's goals.
我想一边回顾今年的业绩，一边考虑明年的目标。
体からだに悪わるいと分わかりつつも、夜よ更ふかしがやめられない。
Even though I know it's bad for me, I can't stop staying up late.
明知对身体不好，却还是戒不掉熬夜。
早はやく返へん事じをしなければと思おもいつつ、もう一いっ週しゅう間かんもたってしまった。
Even as I kept thinking I had to reply soon, a whole week has gone by.
想着必须尽快回复，已经过去了一周。

Notes

つつ alone is a written 〜ながら (two actions at once). つつも means 'although', typically with verbs of knowing or thinking (思いつつ, 知りつつ).

#simultaneity#concession#written

Related N2 grammar

〜に伴って〜かのようだ〜ものの〜ことに（は）〜ことなく〜ことから〜ことは〜が〜末（に）

Suggest an improvement

Use this entry in code

import { getGrammarById } from 'kotowa';
getGrammarById('tsutsu-tsutsu-mo');

{
  "id": "tsutsu-tsutsu-mo",
  "pattern": "〜つつ / 〜つつも",
  "romaji": "tsutsu / tsutsu mo",
  "level": "N2",
  "meaning": "while (doing); although, even while",
  "formation": "Verb-stem + つつ / Verb-stem + つつも",
  "examples": [
    {
      "ja": "今年の業績を振り返りつつ、来年の目標を考えたい。",
      "furigana": "{今年|ことし}の{業績|ぎょうせき}を{振|ふ}り{返|かえ}りつつ、{来年|らいねん}の{目標|もくひょう}を{考|かんが}えたい。",
      "en": "While looking back on this year's results, I'd like to think about next year's goals."
    },
    {
      "ja": "体に悪いと分かりつつも、夜更かしがやめられない。",
      "furigana": "{体|からだ}に{悪|わる}いと{分|わ}かりつつも、{夜更|よふ}かしがやめられない。",
      "en": "Even though I know it's bad for me, I can't stop staying up late."
    },
    {
      "ja": "早く返事をしなければと思いつつ、もう一週間もたってしまった。",
      "furigana": "{早|はや}く{返事|へんじ}をしなければと{思|おも}いつつ、もう{一週間|いっしゅうかん}もたってしまった。",
      "en": "Even as I kept thinking I had to reply soon, a whole week has gone by."
    }
  ],
  "tags": [
    "simultaneity",
    "concession",
    "written"
  ],
  "notes": "つつ alone is a written 〜ながら (two actions at once). つつも means 'although', typically with verbs of knowing or thinking (思いつつ, 知りつつ).",
  "zh": {
    "status": "reviewed",
    "source_hash": "ebe72fed2d2900198a208a0cf8ec7221b08b1bb36b30bc4f82453bb5ec55f486",
    "meanings": [
      "一边",
      "虽然"
    ],
    "formation": "动词ます形去ます＋つつ／つつも",
    "explanation": "表示同时进行动作，或明知某事却仍然如此。",
    "notes": "つつも常表示让步；整体较书面。",
    "examples": [
      {
        "ja": "今年の業績を振り返りつつ、来年の目標を考えたい。",
        "zh": "我想一边回顾今年的业绩，一边考虑明年的目标。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "体に悪いと分かりつつも、夜更かしがやめられない。",
        "zh": "明知对身体不好，却还是戒不掉熬夜。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "早く返事をしなければと思いつつ、もう一週間もたってしまった。",
        "zh": "想着必须尽快回复，已经过去了一周。"
      }
    ],
    "references": [
      "sources/grammar/n2.json#tsutsu-tsutsu-mo",
      "Original Chinese authored and reviewed by Codex; no independent human review"
    ],
    "reviewer": "Codex",
    "review_method": "ai",
    "reviewed_at": "2026-10-28",
    "review_hash": "b4e81e283b2eb006507f9bcd6cc82b2b152c6098c1d0cb2dcb76f51c4a86a8e4"
  }
}