〜つつ / 〜つつも
While / even while 〜つつ / 〜つつも
Meaning
"While doing ~"; with も, "even though ~".
Formation
[verb ます-stem] + つつ / つつも
Notes
The written-register 〜ながら. Bare つつ is simultaneity; つつも adds concession, typically doing something one knows to be wrong. Note that it attaches to the ます-stem, and is rare in speech.
Examples
音楽（おんがく）を聞（き）きつつ、勉強（べんきょう）しています。
I study while listening to music.
Breakdown
悪（わる）いと知（し）りつつも、うそをついてしまいました。
Even knowing it was wrong, I told a lie.
Breakdown
体に悪（からだにわる）いと思（おも）いつつ、たばこをやめられません。
Even though I know it is bad for me, I cannot quit smoking.
Breakdown
昔（むかし）を思い出（おもいで）しつつ、写真（しゃしん）を見（み）ていました。
I looked at the photographs, remembering the old days.
Breakdown
反省（はんせい）しつつも、同（おな）じ失敗（しっぱい）を繰り返（くりかえ）しています。
Even while regretting it, I keep repeating the same mistake.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜間に
While / during 〜間に
"While ~", "during ~" — a one-off event happens inside a stretch of time.
〜うちに
While it lasts 〜うちに
"While ~ (before it changes)" — do it now, because the condition will not hold for long.
〜最中に
Right in the middle of 〜最中に
"Right in the middle of ~" — something interrupts an activity at its height.