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Formation: V-ます stem + つつある; V-ます stem + つつある + N

〜つつある describes a change that is under way and moving steadily in one direction, such as rising, recovering or disappearing. It is written and formal, typical of news reports, editorials and academic prose. It is used with verbs of change (増える, 変わる, 回復する, 失われる), not with ordinary activity verbs like 食べる or 読む, and not with states. With change verbs, 〜ている often means the change is already complete (死んでいる, 'is dead'), while 〜つつある means it is still approaching that point (死につつある, 'is dying'). 〜一方だ and 〜ばかりだ also describe one-way change, but they stress that it keeps getting more (and often worse), while つつある neutrally reports progress. Plain 〜つつ means 'while' or 'although'.

Variants: つつあります、つつあった、つつあるN (失われつつある伝統)

Examples

• 地球の平均気温は年々上昇しつつある。
  The earth's average temperature is rising year by year.
• 景気は緩やかに回復しつつある。
  The economy is gradually recovering.
• 失われつつある伝統文化を守りたい。
  I want to protect traditional culture that is slowly being lost.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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