〜つつ (~tsutsu) — while doing (written ながら)
The written, formal 「〜ながら」— 「相談しつつ進める」= move ahead while consulting.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- It is the word of speeches, meetings, the news and reports.
- In the weather report: 「台風は速度を速めつつ、北に進んでいます」(the typhoon is moving north while picking up speed).
- In a meeting: 「皆さんと相談しつつ、計画を進めたいと思います」(I would like to move the plan forward while consulting all of you).
Meaning
「〜つつ」is exactly 'while doing' — the same as 「〜ながら」, just wearing a suit.
How to attach
Drop ます from the ます-form and add つつ: 考え+つつ、楽しみ+つつ
Versus what you know
- N4「音楽を聞きながら勉強する」— everyone knows 「〜ながら」. Say 「テレビを見つつご飯を食べる」at home and you sound like a newsreader — there, use ながら.
- If ある follows つつ, you get the previous page's 「〜つつある」(gradually changing) — a different thing.
Watch out
- Only actions that take some time (考える・相談する・楽しむ・学ぶ); not instant ones (ドアを開ける).
- The same person does both halves.
Also
「〜つつ」also has another meaning, 'even though I know' (知りつつ・思いつつ) — that is Lesson 10's 「〜つつ(も)」.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
先輩に相談しつつ、仕事のやり方を覚えていった。
せんぱいにそうだんしつつ、しごとのやりかたをおぼえていった。
I learned how the job is done while consulting my seniors.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 相談する = to consult (an action that takes time) → drop ます from 相談します: 相談し → we attached 「つつ」 → then the main action, by the same person: 覚えていった.
台風は速度を速めつつ、北に進んでいます。
たいふうはそくどをはやめつつ、きたにすすんでいます。
The typhoon is moving north while picking up speed.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 速める = to speed up → drop ます from 速めます: 速め → 「つつ」 → then the main point: 北に進んでいます — it's a weather news sentence, so つつ, not ながら.
日本の生活を楽しみつつ、試験の準備も続けています。
にほんのせいかつをたのしみつつ、しけんのじゅんびもつづけています。
While enjoying life in Japan, I am also keeping up my exam preparation.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 楽しむ = to enjoy (a long-term action) → drop ます from 楽しみます: 楽しみ → 「つつ」 → then the main action: 準備も続けています — both actions are by the same person.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「家族と_つつ、進路を決めたい。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Like ながら — drop ます from the ます-form.
相談します → 相談し + つつ. 相談しつつ = while consulting.
Which sentence is wrong?
💡 Hint: Who does the two halves?
Both halves of つつ must have the same subject; 私 and 弟 are different, so it is wrong.
This lesson's 「〜つつ」means the same as which form?
💡 Hint: Two actions at the same time.
つつ is the written, formal version of ながら (doing at the same time).
Your score: /3