This shows an action is finished. It means something is done for sure. It is like saying 'already did'.
Verb [stem] + つPrimary
Verb [stem] + つる
This shows an action is finished. It means something is done for sure. It is like saying 'already did'.
風立ちつ、いざ生きめやも。
The wind has risen! We must try to live!
山を越えつる旅人、里に下りて宿を探す。
The traveler who has crossed the mountains descends to the village to find lodging.
文を書きて、使者に持たせつ。
Having written the letter, he had the messenger take it.
敵の大将を討ちつと誰もが信じていたが、報はまだ来ない。
Everyone believed that they had surely defeated the enemy general, but the report has not yet arrived.
はや夜も明けつ。人々は活動を始める。
The night has already dawned. People begin their activities.
This grammar shows something is truly, fully done. It's like putting a big, clear stamp on an action. It means there is no doubt it is finished.
Both 〜つ and 〜ぬ show that an action is finished. But they are used for different kinds of actions. You use 〜つ for things you do on purpose. For example, 'I opened the door'. You use 〜ぬ for things that happen on their own. For example, 'The flower bloomed'.
Don't use this when you speak Japanese today. It is only for old books and poems. Using it now would sound very strange.
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Dialect / slang variants(1)
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