N2 Timing, Occasions, and Triggers

~つつ: meaning, usage and examples

~つつ means: while... / -ing (formal).

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

Examples

1. 考かんがえつつ、答こたえを書かいた。

   I wrote the answer while thinking.

2. 昔むかしを思おもいつつ、歩あるいた。

   I walked while thinking of the past.

3. 景色けしきを楽たのしみつつ、ゆっくり山道やまみちを登のぼった。

   We slowly climbed the mountain path, enjoying the scenery.

4. 音楽おんがくを聴ききつつ、夕食ゆうしょくの準備じゅんびをした。

   I made dinner while listening to music.

When to use it

つつ has two uses. First, it means "while", one subject doing two actions at the same time: 景色けしきを楽たのしみつつ山道やまみちを登のぼった. It also has an "although" use, つつ(も), which has its own page: 悪わるいと知しりつつ (knowing it is wrong, yet...).

Nuance

Written or formal; in conversation people use ながら. Both actions must belong to the same subject. In the contrast use, the speaker often admits a weakness or regret, with phrases like 知しりつつ, 思おもいつつ, 悪わるいと分わかりつつ. Do not confuse it with つつある, which means "is in the process of".

Compare

ながら is the everyday version of both meanings: 音楽おんがくを聞ききながら勉強べんきょうする. つつ is the formal one: 反省はんせいしつつ、前まえに進すすむ. ものの also means "although" but follows a full clause: 買かったものの使つかっていない. つつある shows ongoing change: 景気けいきは回復かいふくしつつある.

Tip: In the "while" meaning, one person does both actions: 考かんがえつつ書かく. For the "although" meaning, see ~つつ(も).