aspect N2 common writtenpolite
〜つつある — to be in the process of ~ing
〜つつある ・ つつある
Meaning
- to be in the process of ~ing / to be steadily ~ing — a change is underway and progressing toward completion in one direction
Key sentence
景気は回復しつつある。
The economy is steadily recovering.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (ます-stem) | V-stem + つつある | 増える → 増えつつある / 変わる → 変わりつつある |
When: Written and formal (reports, news, essays). Describes a directional change, not a momentary action.
Examples
伝統的な技術が失われつつある。
Traditional skills are gradually being lost.
問題は解決しつつあるが、まだ油断できない。
The problem is on its way to being solved, but we can't relax yet.
When you can't use it
- Needs a verb expressing change/progression (増える, 変わる, 回復する). A purely punctual or stative verb doesn't work: ×「ある つつある」.
Easily confused with
Notes
- Built on the literary つつ ('while ~ing'); here it fuses with ある to mean a change in progress, a separate meaning from the simultaneous-action つつ.
See 〜つつある in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜つつある the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.