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JLPT N3Connectives

～つつ(も)— While Yet Doing Otherwise

Links two actions performed at the same time by one subject ('while doing X'), and with も it adds a concessive nuance ('even though / despite doing X'). The も version often implies an inner conflict — doing one thing while knowing or feeling the opposite. More formal than ～ながら.

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Pro lessonUNIT 41 · CONNECTIVES

Structure · 形

[Verb ます-stem] + つつ(も)

Examples · 例文

  • 悪いと知りつつも、嘘をついてしまった。

    Warui to shiritsutsu mo, uso o tsuite shimatta.

    Even though I knew it was wrong, I ended up lying.

    知り (stem of 知る) + つつも = 'despite knowing', showing internal conflict

  • 音楽を聴きつつ、宿題をした。

    Ongaku o kikitsutsu, shukudai o shita.

    I did my homework while listening to music.

    聴き (stem of 聴く) + つつ = two simultaneous actions

  • やめようと思いつつも、つい食べすぎてしまう。

    Yameyou to omoitsutsu mo, tsui tabesugite shimau.

    Even though I keep thinking I'll stop, I end up overeating.

    思い (stem of 思う) + つつも = concessive 'despite thinking'

Usage notes · 注意

  • Register: formal / literary; spoken speech prefers ～ながら or ～のに.
  • With も it is concessive ('even though'); without も it means plain 'while'.
  • Both actions must share the same subject.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～つつ(も) is tested against.

vs～ながら

～ながら is neutral and common in speech; ～つつ(も) is formal and, with も, carries a stronger 'despite' nuance.

vs～のに

～のに expresses simple contrast/frustration; ～つつも links a simultaneous action with concession by the same subject.

More connectives

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