What does ～つ～つ mean? Japanese grammar N1

Forming it

How to use it

A FIXED EXPRESSION combining two opposite verbs (or active/passive forms of the same verb) to describe an action repeating back and forth.

• 「～つ～つ」 combines two opposite MASU-STEMS, describing an action repeating back and forth: 「行きつ戻りつ」 (going back and forth), 「持ちつ持たれつ」 (mutually supporting each other), 「浮きつ沈みつ」 (now floating, now sinking).
• These are FIXED EXPRESSIONS — the set of usable pairs is very limited; you cannot freely combine your own verbs.
• To say "doing A and B" in an ordinary way, use 「～たり～たり」 or 「～ながら」.

Examples

• 彼(かれ)は部屋(へや)の前(まえ)を行(い)きつ戻(もど)りつしていた。

  He kept pacing back and forth in front of the room.

• 人(ひと)は持(も)ちつ持(も)たれつで生(い)きているものだ。

  People get by supporting one another.

Keep in mind

• Only a few fixed pairs are used.
• The two verbs must be opposites (go/return, give/receive).

Common mistakes

• Wrong働(はたら)きつ勉強(べんきょう)しつで疲(つか)れた。

  What with working and studying, I'm exhausted.

  Correct働(はたら)いたり勉強(べんきょう)したりで疲(つか)れた。

  「つ～つ」 is only used as a FIXED EXPRESSION with two opposing verbs; for ordinary things, use 「～たり～たり」.

• Wrong話(はな)しつ笑(わら)いつしていた。

  They kept talking and laughing.

  Correct話(はな)したり笑(わら)ったりしていた。

  話す/笑う are not an opposing pair, so they cannot be combined with 「つ～つ」.

Exam tips

• 「つ～つ」 = FIXED EXPRESSIONS (行きつ戻りつ・持ちつ持たれつ); verbs cannot be freely combined.

Related patterns

• ～たり～たり
• ～ながら
• ～ては