〜つ〜つ (~tsu ~tsu) — ~ing and ~ing by turns
Two opposite actions taking turns, again and again — only in a few fixed pairs.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- You are watching a marathon on TV: one runner moves ahead, the other overtakes, then the first overtakes again.
- The commentator says 「抜きつ抜かれつ」.
Meaning
- 「〜つ〜つ」paints two opposite actions taking turns, over and over.
- It is an old, literary form that lives only in a few fixed pairs: 行きつ戻りつ (pacing back and forth), 抜きつ抜かれつ (overtaking and being overtaken), 持ちつ持たれつ (helping each other), 追いつ追われつ (chasing and being chased).
- Learn each pair as one word.
How to attach
- Take the ます-form, drop ます and add 「つ」, twice: 行き＋つ、戻り＋つ
- The two verbs are opposites, or the same verb in its normal and passive form (抜く／抜かれる)
- After it comes 「する」(行きつ戻りつする), 「の」＋N (持ちつ持たれつの関係) or 「だ」.
Versus what you know
N4It is close to 「〜たり〜たり」(行ったり来たり), but 「たり」goes on any verb.
Watch out
Do not invent new pairs — 「掃除しつ洗濯しつ」sounds strange; there 「掃除したり洗濯したり」is right.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
面接の前、彼は会社の前を行きつ戻りつしていた。
めんせつのまえ、かれはかいしゃのまえをいきつもどりつしていた。
Before the interview, he was pacing back and forth in front of the company's building.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 行く = to go → drop ます: 行き → 「つ」 → 戻る = to come back → 戻り＋つ → 行きつ戻りつ = going a little, then coming back again → then 「していた」 = was doing just that.
駅伝で、二つの大学が最後まで抜きつ抜かれつの争いを続けた。
えきでんで、ふたつのだいがくがさいごまでぬきつぬかれつのあらそいをつづけた。
In the ekiden relay, the two universities kept overtaking each other right to the end.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 抜く = to overtake → 抜き＋つ → 抜かれる = to be overtaken → 抜かれ＋つ → 「の」 links it to a noun: 抜きつ抜かれつの争い = a race of overtaking each other in turn → 続けた.
同じ職場の仲間とは持ちつ持たれつだから、困ったときはお互いさまだ。
おなじしょくばのなかまとはもちつもたれつだから、こまったときはおたがいさまだ。
With colleagues at the same workplace it's give and take, so when one of us is in trouble, we help each other.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 持つ = to carry → 持ち＋つ → 持たれる = to be carried (by others) → 持たれ＋つ → 持ちつ持たれつ = I help you, you help me — a fixed pair meaning 'mutual help' → 「だから」 → お互いさま.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「彼は駅の前を行き＿戻り＿していた。」— fill the blanks.
💡 Hint: What follows the ます-stem (行き)?
ます-stem + つ, twice: 行きつ戻りつ = back and forth. 「たり」goes on the た-form (行ったり), not the ます-stem.
In which sentence is 「〜つ〜つ」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Any verbs, or only fixed pairs?
「つ〜つ」lives only in fixed opposite pairs (行きつ戻りつ・持ちつ持たれつ・抜きつ抜かれつ). For cleaning and laundry, say 「掃除したり洗濯したり」.
What is the difference between 「〜つ〜つ」and the N4 form 「〜たり〜たり」?
💡 Hint: The meaning is close; which one is limited?
Both show actions taking turns, but 「つ〜つ」is an old form used only in fixed pairs like 行きつ戻りつ. 「たり〜たり」works with any verb, in speech too.
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