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〜つつある

is in the process of (changing)

Verb ます-stem + つつある

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つつある describes a change that's under way and still progressing: 景気は回復しつつある, "the economy is recovering". It attaches to the ます-stem.

It's used with verbs of change (増える, 減る, 変わる, 広まる, 回復する), and it's typical of news, reports and formal writing. In speech, ている does the same job: 回復している.

The difference is focus. ている can describe a finished state (窓が開いている, "the window is open"); つつある only ever means "gradually becoming", so it's clearer for trends.

Compare 一方だ, which also describes a trend, but with the sense of "only ever going that way", often with a complaint.

Examples

  • 景気けいきは回復かいふくしつつある。

    The economy is recovering.

  • 地球ちきゅうの気温きおんは上あがりつつある。

    Global temperatures are rising.

  • 日本にほんの人口じんこうは減へりつつある。

    Japan's population is shrinking.

  • 町まちの様子ようすは変かわりつつあります。

    The town is gradually changing.

  • 新あたらしい技術ぎじゅつが広ひろまりつつある。

    New technology is spreading.

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