How do I know if the meaning of つつ in a sentence is whether "while" or
"although"? You infer it just because of the context? or is there any signals
before/after that gives you the meaning of it?
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2021-07-30T04:48:43.273
88674
2021-07-30T11:04:40.453
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question
grammar meaning nuances
Meaning of つつ(も)?
I would say it is mainly because of the context. If we look at
<https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%A4%E3%81%A4/#jn-147598> :

>   1. 二つの動作・作用が同時に並行して行われることを表す。それぞれが…して。…ながら。「諸事情を考慮しつつ計画を立てる」「大声で叫びつつ走りだす」
>   2. 二つの動作・作用が矛盾して行われることを表す。…にもかかわらず。…ていても。「早起きが健康にいいと知りつつ、つい寝すごしてしまう」→つつも
>

we might be tempted to conclude that つつも can only mean "although" and not
"while", but we can see that is not necessarily the case if we look at
<https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%A4%E3%81%A4%E3%82%82/#jn-147737>, in
which both "while" and "although" are listed:

>   1. 「つつ」を強めた言い方。…しながら。「働きつつも学ぶ」
>   2. …にもかかわらず。「努力しなければならないと知りつつもついなまけてしまう」
>

I would argue that, in case of つつも, the connotation is leaned slightly toward
"although": to me, 働きつつも学ぶ seems to slightly suggest that the writer considers
"studying while working" to be an unusual thing requiring extra effort.

I would also argue that "while" in the English language is also often used to
contrast two opposing ideas or concepts that nevertheless happen at the same
time.
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2021-07-30T11:04:40.453
88677
2021-07-30T11:04:40.453
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answer