つつ(も)

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

一人ひとりで洞窟どうくつに入はいるのは危あぶないと知しりつつも、入はいってしまった。

Despite knowing that going in a cave alone is dangerous, I went in.

Explanation

Attach it to the verb stem (the ます form without ます). It means 'even though I know ..., I still ...'. The first part is something you understand, the second part goes against it, often with a feeling of guilt or helplessness: 「体に悪いと知りつつ、やめられない」 (I know it's bad for me, but I can't stop). The first verb is usually one of thinking or knowing, like 「思う、知る、わかる」.

Mixed up with

Close to 「ながら(も)」, but 「つつ(も)」 only follows verbs, never a noun or an adjective directly.

「ながら(も)」 allows 「子供ながら」 (though a child) and 「狭いながら」 (though small); neither can be replaced by 「つつ」.

Easily confused withつつ(も)・ながらも: the difference ›

Examples

初はじめてのライブで緊張きんちょうしつつもものすごく楽たのしめました。
Despite being very nervous at my first concert, I was able to enjoy it.
隊員たいいんたちは南極点なんきょくてん遠征えんせいに向むけてよく備そなえつつも、結局けっきょく失敗しっぱいした。
The team members prepared well for the South Pole expedition, but it failed in the end.
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。
He's aiming high, yet acting as if he isn't.
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.
主人公しゅじんこうはこの地下ちか牢ろうに入はいるのは危あぶないと思おもいつつも、また入はいった。
Despite thinking that entering the dungeon was dangerous, the protagonist still went inside.
臭においが気きになりつつも、汚よごれを放置ほうちしたら大変たいへんなことになった。
Despite being bothered by the smell, I left the dirty thing as it was and it got worse.
弱点じゃくてんを知しりつつほったらかしにしたからこんな悲惨ひさんなことになったんだ。
It became this sort of disaster because we/they neglected it despite knowing its weaknesses.
実力じつりょく不足ぶそくを実感じっかんしつつも、未いまだにプロを諦あきらめられません。
Even though I can feel I'm not good enough, I still can't give up on going pro.
彼かれの言いうことは怪あやしいと思おもいつつもとりあえず従したがうことにした。
Even while I think what he says is suspicious, for the time being I have decided to do as he says.
現代人げんだいじんの多おおくは、朝あさご飯はんが大切たいせつだと知しりつつも、忙いそがしくて抜ぬいてしまう。
Many people today know breakfast is important, yet they skip it because they are busy.
危あぶないことだと知しりつつも、科学者かがくしゃは知識ちしきのために、命いのちを掛かけつつ実験じっけんする場合ばあいもある。
Despite knowing that it is dangerous, there are cases when scientists, for the sake of knowledge, carry out experiments while putting their lives on the line.
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 the story sounded fishy, I decided to believe him.
環境かんきょうに悪わるいと知しりつつ、レジ袋ぶくろを使つかい続つづけている。
While I know that it is bad for the environment, I continue to use plastic bags.
裁判さいばんではあらそいつつ、私生活しせいかつでは結構けっこう仲良なかよくしている。
We fight in court, yet in private we get along quite well.

つつ(も)

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested 2 times in past papers