N2 Contrast and Concession

~つつ(も): meaning, usage and examples

~つつ(も) means: while... / although... (formal, contradictory).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 無理むりだと思おもいつつ、頼たのんでみた。

   While thinking it was impossible, I tried asking.

2. 健康けんこうに悪わるいと知しりつつも、夜食やしょくを食たべてしまう。

   Although I know it's bad for my health, I end up eating late-night snacks.

3. 早はやく寝ねなければと思おもいつつも、つい遅おそくまで動画どうがを見みてしまう。

   Although I know I should go to bed early, I end up watching videos until late.

4. いけないと分わかりつつも、つい母ははに強つよく言いってしまった。

   Even though I knew I shouldn't, I ended up speaking harshly to my mother.

When to use it

つつも means "although" or "while knowing": the speaker thinks or knows one thing but does something that goes against it. It often describes giving in to temptation or failing to act, as in 早はやく寝ねようと思おもいつつも、夜更よふかし. Without も, つつ can also mean doing two things at once in formal writing.

Nuance

Formal and written; in conversation people say ながらも or のに. It usually goes with verbs of thinking and knowing (思おもう, 知しる, 感かんじる, 言いう) and often shows self-criticism or regret. Both parts share the same subject.

Compare

ながらも has the same meaning but also works with adjectives and nouns (狭せまいながらも). ものの connects two events or facts more generally (習ならったものの忘わすれた). つつある is a different pattern meaning "is in the process of": 景気けいきは回復かいふくしつつある.

Tip: Typical set phrases: 悪わるいと知しりつつ, いけないと思おもいつつ. If you see 思おもいつつも or 知しりつつも, expect a "but I did it anyway" ending.