The Difference Between〜ながら (nagara) vs 〜つつ (tsutsu)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

Joy relaxing [Nagara] vs. Joy working [Tsutsu]

Do you multitask? “I eat while watching TV.” “I walk while thinking.”
In Japanese, we have two words for “while”: 〜ながら (Nagara) and 〜つつ (Tsutsu). Which one should you use? Let’s ask Joy and Ken!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy is telling Ken about her weekend.

Joy

ケンさん、昨日（きのう）はコーヒーを飲み（のみ）つつ、Netflixを見（み）ました。
(Ken, yesterday I watched Netflix “while” drinking coffee.)

Ken

「飲みつつ」！？ Joyさん、それは小説（しょうせつ）の言葉（ことば）ですよ（笑）。
普通（ふつう）の会話（かいわ）では飲みながらを使（つか）います。
(“Nomitsutsu”!? Joy, that sounds like a novel! In normal conversation, we use “Nominagara”.)

💡 Explanation

Both words mean “doing two actions at the same time.” The grammar formation is also the same (Verb Stem + …). However, the situation is different.

Point 1: Nagara (〜ながら) for Daily Conversation

This is for Casual / Spoken Language. Use this when talking to friends, family, or colleagues about daily actions.

音楽（おんがく）を聞き（きき）ながら勉強（べんきょう）します。
(I study while listening to music.)
ご飯（はん）を食べ（たべ）ながら話し（はなし）ましょう。
(Let’s talk while eating.)

Point 2: Tsutsu (〜つつ) for Formal Writing

This is for Formal / Written Language. You will see this in news reports, business emails, or novels. It sounds stiff and serious.

将来（しょうらい）のことを考え（かんがえ）つつ、貯金（ちょきん）をしています。
(I am saving money while considering the future.)
問題点（もんだいてん）を相談（そうだん）しつつ、解決（かいけつ）します。
(We will solve the issue while consulting on the problems.)

📊 Comparison / Common Mistake

Word	Level	Nuance
〜ながら (Nagara)	N5 / N4	Spoken, Casual, Daily Life
〜つつ (Tsutsu)	N3 / N2	Written, Formal, Business

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

❌ Wrong: 先生（せんせい）、お茶（ちゃ）を 飲み（のみ）つつ 話（はなし）しませんか？
(Too formal! It sounds like a samurai or a book character.)

✅ Right: 先生（せんせい）、お茶（ちゃ）を 飲み（のみ）ながら 話（はなし）しませんか？
(Sensei, shall we talk while drinking tea?)

🔥 Practice Quiz

Tap to check the answer!

Q1. Talking to a friend: “I walked while using my phone.”

Answer: 歩きながら (Aruki-nagara)
It is a daily action, so use “Nagara”. “スマホを見（み）ながら歩（ある）きました。”

Q2. Business Email: “We are considering the budget…”

Answer: 検討しつつ (Kentou shi-tsutsu)
For formal business contexts, “Tsutsu” is professional.

Q3. I sing songs while taking a bath.

Answer: 歌いながら (Utai-nagara)
Casual daily habit. “お風呂（ふろ）に入（はい）りながら歌（うた）います。”

Keep practicing with JPLT!