つつ
🃏 Flashcard
つつ
tsutsu
Tap to reveal usage
while; even though; despite~
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
tsutsu
Post ID
51173
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
while; even though; despite~
📖 How to use it
A formal conjunction meaning 'while' for simultaneous actions or 'even though' for contrast, used in written and formal speech.
Attaches to
Attach to the ます-stem of a verb (the form used before ます, e.g., 歩く → 歩き, 食べる → 食べ).
つつ has two main uses. The first is like 'while' in English, describing two actions happening at the same time by the same subject. For example, you might say you think about someone while walking. The second use is 'even though' or 'despite', expressing that something is true but you act against it. For instance, you know it's bad but you still do it. Both uses are formal and belong to written language, such as novels, essays, or news. In casual conversation, you'd use ながら for 'while' and のに or けど for 'even though'.
彼は歩きつつ、電話をかけている。
Kare wa aruki tsutsu, denwa o kakete iru.
He is making a phone call while walking.
悪いと知りつつ、つい甘いものを食べてしまう。
Warui to shiri tsutsu, tsui amai mono o tabete shimau.
Even though I know it's bad, I end up eating sweets.
彼女は難しい問題に取り組みつつ、周りの学生にアドバイスをしていた。
Kanojo wa muzukashii mondai ni torikumi tsutsu, mawari no gakusei ni adobaisu o shite ita.
She was giving advice to the students around her while working on the difficult problem.
Not ながら (for 'while') and のに (for 'even though')
つつ is formal and used in writing or formal speech. ながら is common in conversation for simultaneous actions (e.g., 歩きながら). のに is the usual way to say 'even though' in everyday speech (e.g., 知っているのに言わない).
Register
Formal and literary; used mostly in written Japanese, not in everyday casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
つつ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat つつ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using つつ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern つつ mean?
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While; even though; despite~
What JLPT level is つつ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use つつ in a sentence?
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Attach つつ (tsutsu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is つつ formal or casual Japanese?
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つつ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember つつ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.