► 接続助詞
つつ [(1)つつ] [つつある] [liter] meaning: continue rank: 2
☆ 多くの先進国の人口は減少しつつある ⇨ The populations of many advanced nations are decreasing continuously
☆ 時代は変わりつつある ⇨ The time is changing
☆ 状況は改善しつつある ⇨ The situation is improving
つつ [(1)つつ] [liter] meaning: even though rank: 3
☆ 彼はそれを知りつつ何もしなかった ⇨ He knew about it but didn’t do anything
☆ 止めなければと思いつつ止められないでいる ⇨ I haven’t been able to stop even though I know I have to
つつ [(1)つつ] [liter] meaning: while rank: 3
☆ 彼女は仕事を続けつつ子供を育てている ⇨ She is raising her children while continuing to work
► 名詞
筒 [(2)つつ] meaning: cylinder rank: 3
☆ 筒状の容器 ⇨ A cylinder-shaped container
More examples:
- 試験は重箱の隅をつつくような問題ばかりだった (じゅうばこのすみをつつく) ⇨ The exam was filled with questions that pick the corners of the lunchbox, about extremely trivial details
- 多くの新聞はオンラインに移行しつつある ⇨ Most newspapers are transitioning to online
- 世界秩序は再編されつつ有る ⇨ The world order has been under reorganization
- 彼は汚職を知りつつも何もしなかった ⇨ He knew about the corruption but didn’t do anything
- 止めなければと思いつつも止められないでいる ⇨ I haven’t been able to stop even though I know I have to
- 彼女は彼の脇腹をつついた ⇨ She poked him in the rib
- 米国では反動主義が激化しつつある ⇨ The reactionary movement has been intensifying in US
- お金が無いと思いつつ、つい買ってしまった ⇨ I knew I didn’t have money for it, but couldn’t resist buying it
- キツツキが木をつついている ⇨ A woodpecker is pecking at a tree
- 皆で鍋をつついた ⇨ We all (sat around and) poked at, eat, a hot pot