Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses a process of change or development that is currently underway.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that something is gradually changing or moving towards a certain state or conclusion.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb ます-stem + つつある
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in formal speeches, presentations, and discussions.
Informal Situations
Rarely used; sounds overly formal in casual conversation.
Written Language
Commonly found in news articles, reports, academic papers, and formal documents.
Spoken Language
Less common, primarily used in formal or official speaking contexts.
💡 Common Applications
Describing societal or environmental changes
Used to talk about trends, environmental shifts, or social developments that are happening gradually.
Example: 地球温暖化は深刻化しつつある。 (Global warming is becoming more serious.)
Reporting economic or technological progress
Applicable when discussing economic growth, technological advancements, or market changes.
Example: 新しい技術が急速に普及しつつある。 (New technology is rapidly spreading.)
Discussing personal or organizational development
Can be used to describe a person’s progress or a company’s evolution.
Example: 彼は日本語の能力を着実に向上させつつある。 (He is steadily improving his Japanese ability.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal written Japanese, less frequent in spoken Japanese.
Difficulty
Advanced (JLPT N1).
Example Sentences
経済は回復しつつあるが、まだ課題は多い。
The economy is in the process of recovering, but there are still many challenges.
その地域では人口が減少しつつある。
The population in that area is gradually decreasing.
新しい治療法が開発されつつある。
A new treatment method is currently being developed.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Focus on Process
〜つつある emphasizes the ongoing process or gradual change, not a completed state or simple ongoing action.
Example: 地球温暖化は進んでいます。 (Ongoing state) vs. 地球温暖化は進みつつあります。 (Ongoing process of worsening)
Formality
It is a more formal and literary expression than ～ている.
Example: 景気がよくなっています。 (Less formal) vs. 景気が回復しつつあります。 (More formal)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using with instantaneous verbs or simple actions.
✅ Use only with verbs that indicate a continuous process or gradual change.
Incorrect: 食べつつある (eating). Correct: 変化しつつある (changing).
❌ Using in casual conversation.
✅ Reserve for formal or written contexts.
Saying 「テレビを見つつあります」 in casual talk sounds very unnatural; 「テレビを見ています」 is appropriate.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: High; formal and often used in contexts requiring a dignified or objective tone.
Social Situations: News reporting, academic discussions, formal presentations, official announcements.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; usage does not vary significantly by region.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～つつある vs. ～ている
～つつある specifically emphasizes the process of change or movement towards a state. ～ている can describe an ongoing action, a state resulting from an action, or sometimes an ongoing process, but lacks the formal nuance and clear focus on gradual change inherent in ～つつある.
When to use: Use ～つつある for formal contexts describing a process of change. Use ～ている for general ongoing actions, states, or less formal ongoing processes.
～つつある vs. ～かけだ
～つつある indicates a process that is underway and continuing. ～かけだ indicates that something has started but is incomplete or unfinished.
When to use: Use ～つつある for describing a continuous development. Use ～かけだ for something that is partially done and left unfinished.
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When to use: undefined
📝 Conjugation Notes
Attach directly to the ます-stem (連用形 – ren’yōkei) of the verb. For する verbs, use しつつある. For 来る, use 来つつある (きつつある).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced smoothly, with equal emphasis on each syllable. つつある (tsu-tsu-a-ru).
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「つ」 as “progressing” or “transitioning”. Visualize something gradually changing.
Vocabulary List
深刻化する
shinkokuka suru
to become serious
普及する
fukyū suru
to spread, to become popular
向上させる
kōjō saseru
to improve something
回復する
kaifuku suru
to recover
減少する
genshō suru
to decrease
開発される
kaihatsu sareru
to be developed
改善される
to be improved
Kanji List
深刻
しんこく
serious
普及
ふきゅう
spread, diffusion
向上
こうじょう
improvement
回復
かいふく
recovery
減少
げんしょう
decrease, reduction
開発
かいはつ
development
改善
かいぜん
improvement
影響
えいきょう
influence, effect
技術
ぎじゅつ
technology
革新
かくしん
innovation
悪化
あっか
worsening, deterioration
Practice Exercises
日本の高齢化は（＿＿＿）つつある。
進み
食べ
作り
話し
地球環境は徐々に（＿＿＿）つつある。
書き
悪化し
読み
聞き
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