JLPT N1 grammar

〜つ〜つmeaning and usage

Meaning

Doing A and B (repeatedly, one after another)

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)つverb (masu-stem)つ

How it is used

Pairs two verbs, often active and passive or opposites, to show actions alternating back and forth: 「持ちつ持たれつ」, 「行きつ戻りつ」, 「抜きつ抜かれつ」. Used only in set phrases; leans written.

Examples

  1. 抜きつ抜かれつで白熱したリレーだった。

    It was a neck-and-neck, heated relay.

  2. 近所の人たちとは、持ちつ持たれつの関係だ。

    My neighbours and I look out for each other.

  3. 彼は店の前を行きつ戻りつしながら、入るかどうか迷っていた。

    He paced back and forth in front of the shop, unsure whether to go in.