Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 3/18

つつもEven while ~ing, Even though ~ing, Despite ~ing, Although ~ing

Structure

Verb［ます］+ つつ（も）

Details

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    Formal

About つつ(も)

In addition to the base meaning of つつ 'while doing (A)' when used by itself, the addition of も simply adds the nuance of 'even'. This is often translated as 'even while doing (A), (B)', or 'although doing (A), (B)'. (B) will almost always be something that is somehow contradictory to (A).

Like つつ, つつも will appear after the ます-stem of a verb that is the original ongoing action.

Caution

Like つつ, つつも will usually include a non-physical action in (A), such as reading, listening, looking, thinking, etc. (B) may be either physical or non-physical. Also, in the same way as つつ is similar to ながら, つつも is similar to ながらも.

  • 彼(かれ)は足(あし)を骨折(こっせつ)していながらも、大会(たいかい)に出場(しゅつじょう)しようとしたところ、監督(かんとく)に止(と)められた。
    Despite having a broken leg, he tried to enter the tournament, but was stopped by the coach. (Natural Japanese)
  • 彼(かれ)は足(あし)を骨折(こっせつ)していつつも、大会(たいかい)に出場(しゅつじょう)しようとしたところ、監督(かんとく)に止(と)められた。
    Even while having a broken leg, he tried to enter the tournament, but was stopped by the coach. (Physical action, unnatural Japanese)
  • なんかこの話(はなし)は怪(あや)しいなと思(おも)いながらも、彼(かれ)のことを信(しん)じてみた。
    Despite thinking, 'this sounds fishy,' I believed him. (Natural Japanese)
  • なんかこの話(はなし)は怪(あや)しいなと思(おも)いつつも、彼(かれ)のことを信(しん)じてみた。
    Even though I thought that the story was fishy, I believed him. (Non-physical, natural Japanese)

Despite the similarities, it will be important to remember that つつ only appears with verbs, while ながら can be used after almost any type of word.

Examples

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    斜(なな)めになりつつもなんとか持(も)ちこたえたジェンガ。

    Despite becoming slanted, the Jenga tower somehow held out.

    上(うえ)を狙(ねら)いつつも、まるで狙(ねら)っていないかのような素振(すぶ)りをしています。

    Despite aiming up, he is swinging like he isn't even aiming.

    南極点(なんきょくてん)遠征(えんせい)はよく備(そな)えつつも、失敗(しっぱい)した。

    Despite (everyone) preparing well, the south pole expedition failed.

    車庫(しゃこ)のシャッターを開(あ)けつつも、まだ行(い)こうか行(い)くまいか迷(まよ)っていた。

    Despite opening the garage door, I was still debating whether or not to go.

    船(ふね)は、沈(しず)みそうになりつつも、なんとか港(みなと)まで帰(かえ)って来(き)た。

    Even though the ship was on the verge of sinking, it somehow made it to the harbor.

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