〜つ〜つ
“While doing … and … / Alternating between … and …” → Used to express that two actions or states are repeated alternately or occur back and forth over a period of time.
N1
Meaning
“While doing … and … / Alternating between … and …” → Used to express that two actions or states are repeated alternately or occur back and forth over a period of time.
Formation
Verb (ます-stem) + つ 〜 Verb (ます-stem) + つ
Explanation
〜つ〜つ is used when the speaker describes a situation where:
two actions are not done at the same time
but are repeated alternately
over a certain span of time
It often gives a sense of:
hesitation
fluctuation
gradual process
back-and-forth movement
This grammar is formal and written, and appears frequently in:
narratives
essays
analytical descriptions
JLPT N1 reading passages
💡 Core nuance:
“Doing A, then B, then A again…”