つ (Conjunctive)
two contrasting actions
Structure
Verb［stem］+ つ + (Antonym) Verb［stem］+ つ + の + Noun
Verb［stem］+ つ + Verb［られる］ーる + つ
Verb［stem］+ つ + Verb［られる］ーる + つ + の + Noun
行きつ戻りつ - going back and forth
浮きつ沈みつ - rising and falling (bobbing)
見えつ隠れつ - coming in and out of sight
とつおいつ (from 取りつ置きつ) - wavering between
矯めつ眇めつ - taking a good look
組んず解れつ - struggling with
抜きつ抜かれつ - neck-and-neck
持ちつ持たれつ - give-and-take
押しつ押されつ - pull and be pulled
追いつ追われつ - lead changing many times
差しつ差されつ - taking turns filling cups
Explanation
The particle つ is a conjunction used in the pattern つ～つ to link two verbs that are often opposites. This structure conveys that two actions are occurring alternately or in quick succession, creating a sense of repetition or back-and-forth movement.
To form this pattern, つ attaches to the conjunctive form (the stem of the ます-form) of each verb.
- ソファの後ろで、猫が見えつ隠れつしていた。The cat was peeking in and out from behind the sofa.
- 彼は古い絵を手に取り、矯めつ眇めつしていた。He took the old painting in his hands and was examining it from every angle.
This pattern can also be used with the same verb repeated. In these cases, the first verb is in its standard form (active voice), and the second is in its passive form. This usage expresses a reciprocal relationship or a mutual exchange of the same action.
- マラソンでは、二人のランナーがゴールまで抜きつ抜かれつのデッドヒートを繰り広げた。In the marathon, the two runners were in a dead heat right up to the finish line, vying for the lead.
- 昨日は部長と二人で、差しつ差されつしながらお酒を飲んだ。Yesterday, my department manager and I had drinks, taking turns pouring for each other.
Caution
In contemporary Japanese, this grammar point is primarily found in a number of fixed expressions. Below are some of the most common combinations.
行きつ戻りつ - To go back and forth.
浮きつ沈みつ - To bob up and down.
見えつ隠れつ - To appear and disappear from view.
とつおいつ (from 取りつ置きつ) - To be of two minds; to waver.
矯めつ眇めつ - To examine something from all angles.
組んず解れつ - To grapple with one another.
抜きつ抜かれつ - To be neck and neck in a race.
持ちつ持たれつ - To have a give-and-take relationship.
押しつ押されつ - To push and shove in a crowd.
追いつ追われつ - To chase and be chased.
差しつ差されつ - To take turns pouring drinks for one another.
Examples
ルームメイトとは、家事を分担したり相談に乗ったりと、持ちつ持たれつの関係を築いている。
My roommate and I have built a give-and-take relationship by sharing chores and listening to each other's problems.
満員電車の中で押しつ押されつしながら、なんとか会社にたどり着いた。
I somehow managed to get to my company by getting pushed and shoved around on the packed train.
猫がドアの前を行きつ戻りつして、外に出るか悩んでいるようだ。
The cat seems to be debating whether to go outside, pacing back and forth in front of the door.
池に落ちた紅葉が、風に吹かれて浮きつ沈みつしているのが美しい。
The autumn leaves that have fallen into the pond are beautiful, bobbing up and down as the wind blows.
マラソン大会の最終盤、二人の選手が抜きつ抜かれつのデッドヒートを繰り広げた。
In the final stretch of the marathon, two runners engaged in a neck-and-neck dead heat.
森の中で、臆病な子鹿が木々の間を見えつ隠れつしていた。
In the forest, a timid fawn was darting in and out of sight between the trees.
映画のスリリングなカーチェイスで、二台の車が追いつ追われつの攻防を続けた。
During the movie's thrilling car chase, the two cars continued their back-and-forth struggle of chasing and being chased.
久しぶりに会った友人と、お酒を差しつ差されつしながら昔話に花を咲かせた。
I had a great time reminiscing with a friend I hadn't seen in ages while we took turns pouring drinks for each other.
国際社会では、どの国も互いに助け合い、持ちつ持たれつの関係が重要だ。
In the international community, it is important for all countries to help one another and maintain a mutually supportive relationship.
会議では、新しいプロジェクトをめぐって、押しつ押されつの議論が続いた。
In the meeting, the debate over the new project continued in a back-and-forth manner.
大学に進学するか就職するか、心が決まらずに行きつ戻りつしている。
I keep going back and forth, unable to decide whether to go to university or get a job.
彼は長い俳優人生の中で、何度も浮きつ沈みつを経験してきた。
Throughout his long acting career, he has experienced many ups and downs.