while doing, even while

Intermediate

20-25 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Indicates doing two actions simultaneously or contradiction.

[Verb ます-stem] + つつ

音楽を聴きつつ勉強する。

Ongaku wo kikitsutsu benkyou suru.

I study while listening to music.

悪いと思いつつ、やめられない。

Warui to omoitsutsu, yamerarenai.

Even while thinking it is bad, I cannot stop.

More literary than ながら.

～つつある

in the process of, gradually

～ために (tame ni)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~

～のに (noni)

although ~, despite ~, even though ~

～にもかかわらず

despite ~, in spite of ~

～ようになる

come to ~, become able to ~, reach the point where ~

Common in formal writing and set expressions.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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