immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜つ〜つ

back and forth, mutually (fixed pairs)

Verb ます-stem + つ + opposite or passive ます-stem + つ

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

〜つ〜つ pairs two contrasting or reciprocal verbs to describe alternating or mutual action. It survives in a few fixed phrases:

  • 持ちつ持たれつ: give and take, mutual support.
  • 行きつ戻りつ: going back and forth.
  • 抜きつ抜かれつ: overtaking each other, neck and neck.
  • 差しつ差されつ: pouring drinks for each other.
  • 浮きつ沈みつ: bobbing up and down.

It's literary, and you can't freely create new pairs. Learn them as vocabulary.

Don't confuse it with つつ (N2), "while", which follows a single verb stem: 考えつつ歩く.

Examples

  • 私わたしたちは持もちつ持もたれつの関係かんけいだ。

    We have a give-and-take relationship.

  • 彼かれは廊下ろうかを行いきつ戻もどりつしながら考かんがえた。

    He paced up and down the corridor, thinking.

  • 抜ぬきつ抜ぬかれつの接戦せっせんだった。

    It was a close race, with the lead changing hands again and again.

  • 二人ふたりは差さしつ差さされつ、酒さけを飲のみ交かわした。

    The two of them drank together, pouring for each other.

  • 木この葉はが浮うきつ沈しずみつしながら、川かわを流ながれていった。

    A leaf floated down the river, bobbing up and down.

Related