JLPT N2・N5 Grammar – The difference between “〜ながら” and “〜つつ”
Table of Contents
1. The difference between “〜ながら” and “〜つつ”
2. AながらB
3. AつつB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments
Q: Do ”〜ながら” and ”〜つつ” have the same meaning?”
A: Both “〜ながら” and “〜つつ” are expressions used to describe a situation in which the same person is performing two actions at the same time.
Although their basic meanings are the same, they differ in the situations where they can be used and in their nuance.
AながらB (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
While action A is ongoing, action B is performed at the same time
[Rule]
[V] Verb Stem form + ながら
[Examples]
いつもテレビを見ながらご飯を食べます。
I always eat while watching TV.
Shiftキーを押しながらクリックしてください。
Please click while holding down the Shift key.
In the pattern “A ながら B,” the action that comes second (B) is the main action.
[Example]
音楽を聞きながら散歩しました。
I went for a walk while listening to music.
⇒ The main action is going for a walk.
In addition, in the pattern “A ながら B,” the subject of A and B must always be the same.
[Example]
× わたしが宿題をしながら、弟はテレビを見ていました。
◯ わたしが宿題をしている間、弟はテレビを見ていました。
While I was doing my homework, my younger brother was watching TV.
AつつB (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
While action A is ongoing, action B is performed at the same time.
When two simple actions are performed simultaneously, this usage is the same as “〜ながら.”
[Rule]
[V] Verb Stem form + つつ
[Point]
The basic structure is the same as “〜ながら,” but “〜つつ” is a more formal, literary expression and can only be used in limited situations.
[Examples]
いつもテレビを見つつご飯を食べます。
I always eat while watching TV.
Shiftキーを押しつつクリックしてください。
Please click while holding down the Shift key.
In the structure ”AつつB”, the subject performing actions A and B is the same.
[Example]
× わたしが宿題をしつつ、弟はテレビを見ていました。
◯ わたしが宿題をしている間、弟はテレビを見ていました。
While I was doing my homework, my younger brother was watching TV.
Let’s Compare
“〜ながら” and “〜つつ” are both expressions used to describe performing two actions at the same time.
Although they look very similar in meaning, there are differences in the situations where they can be used and in the nuance that sounds natural in actual usage.
These differences arise depending on how long the actions last, whether they are performed continuously, and which action the speaker’s attention is focused on.
As a result, even if a sentence is grammatically correct, it may still sound unnatural.
In this section, we will compare “〜ながら” and “〜つつ” from the perspectives of simultaneous action, time span, continuity, and cases where lack of attention causes a result, and look at how to use each one correctly.
① Simultaneous Progress
When two simple actions are performed at the same time, there is no major difference in meaning between “〜ながら” and “〜つつ.”
In both cases, the action that comes second is the main action.
[Examples]
◯お茶を飲みながら話しましょう。
◯お茶を飲みつつ話しましょう。
Let’s talk while drinking tea.
⇒ Speaking is the main action.
◯京都の景色を見ながら色々なことを考えました。
◯京都の景色を見つつ色々なことを考えました。
I thought about various things while looking at the scenery in Kyoto.
⇒ Thinking is the main action.
② Duration and Range of Time
When two actions are carried out over a long period of time, “〜ながら” must be used.
In this case, it does not mean that the two actions are performed at exactly the same moment, but rather that both actions take place over a certain period of time.
[Example]
◯学費のためにアルバイトをしながら、大学に通っています。
× 学費のためにアルバイトをしつつ、大学に通っています。
I am working part-time to pay for tuition while attending university.
⇒ Both ‘working part-time’ and ‘attending university’ are done simultaneously over several years.
◯仕事をしながら、子どもを育てています。
× をしつつ、子どもを育てています。
I am raising children while working.
⇒ Both ‘working’ and ‘raising children’ are tasks that take a long time to accomplish.
③ Continuous or Intermittent – 1
When two actions are performed continuously and at the same time, “〜ながら” is used.
On the other hand, when “〜つつ” is used, the actions are still performed at the same time, but the impression is more intermittent compared to “〜ながら.”
[Examples]
◯この歌手は歌いながら踊ることもできます。
This singer can also dance while singing.
⇒ Singing and dancing are happening simultaneously.
◯この歌手は歌いつつ踊ることもできます。
This singer can also dance while singing.
⇒ It gives the impression that sometimes they are singing and dancing.
④ Continuous or Intermittent – 2
When “〜つつ” is used, the first action tends to have an intermittent feel, and the speaker’s attention is often directed toward the second action.
[Example]
音楽を聞きつつ宿題をしよう。
Let’s do homework while listening to music.
⇒ Listening to music, but trying to concentrate on homework.
⑤ Cases of Inattention
When two actions are performed at the same time, they may sometimes lead to a lack of attention.
In such cases, “〜ながら” must be used.
In sentences with “〜ながら,” the first action interferes with the main action, and as a result, an outcome that the speaker did not expect occurs.
[Examples]
◯ スマホを見ながら、駅のホームを歩いていたら落ちてしまいました。
× スマホを見つつ、駅のホームを歩いていたら落ちてしまいました。
I fell off the platform while walking and looking at my smartphone.
⇒ Looking at my smartphone interfered with walking, and falling off the platform was an unexpected result.
◯ ゲームしながら、宿題をしていたら母に怒られました。
× ゲームしつつ、宿題をしていたら母に怒られました。
I got scolded by my mom for doing homework while playing video games.
⇒ Playing video games interfered with doing homework, and being scolded was an unexpected result.
Summary
[Common Points]
- When two simple actions are performed at the same time, either expression can be used.
- The action that comes second is the main action.
[AながらB]
- Used to describe two actions that are carried out over a certain period of time.
- Used when the two actions are performed continuously.
- Also used when the first action interferes with the main action.
[Aつつ]
- Used when the first action is intermittent.
- Because it is a literary and somewhat formal expression, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
- The speaker’s attention is often directed more toward the second action.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A.ながら
大学院で研究しながら病院で働いています。
I am working at a hospital while doing research at graduate school.
*Since both studying and working span over a long period, “ながら” is the correct choice.
A. ながら・つつ
コーヒーでも飲みながら話しませんか。
コーヒーでも飲みつつ話しませんか。
Would you like to talk while having some coffee?
*In this case, both “ながら” and “つつ” are appropriate since simultaneous progress is possible.
A. ながら
いつも辞書を使いながら日本語の本を読んでいます。
I always read Japanese books with the help of a dictionary.
*The main action is “reading a Japanese book,” and the sentence describes a situation in which the reader is continuously using a dictionary while reading. Because using a dictionary is not a temporary action but continues throughout the reading, “ながら” is the natural choice.
A. ながら
電話しながら料理していたら、失敗してしまいました。
I messed up the cooking while I was on the phone.
*Since talking on the phone hindered cooking and led to an unexpected failure, “ながら” is the correct choice.
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