while
and
Structure
- Verb[stem] + つつ
硬
[Aつつ、B is used when two actions are done at the same time・Used in more formal settings]
ツバメは飛行しつつ、寝ることができる。
Based on how the grammar point was explained, this example sentence seems super, mega wrong.
Caution - Unlike ながら, つつ is used more often when the (A) action is an ongoing state, rather than an actual physical action that involves movement.
Flight is an active, physical activity which involves movement. The only explanation I can fathom is a nuance wherein the swallow being asleep makes it a non-active participant in its own flying, downgrading its flight to the “ongoing state” status of hurtling through the air.
This is some hefty nuance to be dropped in unexplained, so it feels more likely that it is an error. If this is in fact hefty nuance, please confirm! My mind would indeed be blown.
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Damn I thought I was the only one, I am confused with this usage as well
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Me too. I think some clarification should be added here. I have a guess that it has to do with motion (through space and time) because the つつも lesson gave an example in which it wouldn’t be used with ている and I couldn’t find any examples of that. But I don’t know if that guess has any real merit or not.
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Thank you, this immediately sticks out when going through this grammar point lol. It has been over two years since this has been mentioned without change???
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Saw this and had the sane thought. Would love if someone could shed some more light on this
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Hi all, and apologies for the late reply! It seems that we missed the questions piling up on this one 
. As is noted on the grammar point explanation, although つつ is more commonly used about non-physical actions, it can and sometimes will be used about physical actions.
Although not a strict rule, one tendency for つつ (even when it comes to physical actions) is to be used in relation to things that take a significant amount of time, or proceed along in a steady state. In this case it makes it seem like the flying that the bird is doing is something that is occuring in an unchanging state (without sudden changes in speed or direction like in active/conscious flying).
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