Difference between revisions of "Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
"越 ... 越..." (yuè... yuè...) is used frequently in Chinese to express that some quality or state is increasing with time, or in tune with another factor.  There are two forms of this pattern, the "simple" one (using 来), and the more complex one (which uses two different adjectives/verbs).
 
  
==Basic Structure with 越来越 ==
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越来越 (yuèláiyuè) is used frequently in Chinese to express that some quality or state is increasing with time and is often translated into English as "more and more." This is the simple form of this pattern, which uses 来, but there is also a [[Expressing "the more... the more..." with "yue… yue…"|more complex one (which uses two different adjectives/verbs)]].
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 +
== Used with Adjectives ==
  
 
This structure expresses that something is becoming more and more ''[[adjectives|adjective]]'' over time, with the latter adjective changing with the verb. The most common structure is:
 
This structure expresses that something is becoming more and more ''[[adjectives|adjective]]'' over time, with the latter adjective changing with the verb. The most common structure is:
  
<div class="jiegou">
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=== Structure ===
 
 
Subj. + 越来越 + Adj.
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
*汽油 <em>越</em> 来 <em>越</em> 贵。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .</span> <span class="trans">Gasoline is getting more and more expensive.</span>
 
*北京 的 空气 质量<em>越</em> 来 <em>越</em> 差。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> . </span><span class="trans">The air quality of Beijing is getting worse and more worse.</span>
 
*她 的 数学 成绩 <em>越</em> 来 <em>越</em> 好。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">Her math grade is getting better and better.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Complex Structure with 越 ... 越 ... ==
 
 
 
This structure can be expanded further by replacing 来 with another verb. This expresses that one change causes another change. To be exact, there are four structures to use. (The examples make it clear how this works.)
 
 
 
=== Structure 1 ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subj.  + 越 +  Adj. 1,越 +  Adj. 2
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 挑战 <em>越</em> 大,我 <em>越</em> 兴奋。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">The bigger the challenge is, the more excited I am.</span>
 
* 我 觉得 窗子 <em>越</em> 大 , 光线 <em>越</em> 好。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">I think that the bigger the window is, the better the natural light is.</span>
 
* 工作 <em>越</em> 复杂 <em>越</em> 有趣 。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">The more complex the work is, the more interesting it is.</span>
 
* 这 个 菜 <em>越</em> 甜 <em>越</em> 不 好吃 。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">The sweeter this dish is, the worse it tastes.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Structure 2 ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. +
Subj. + + Adj. , 越 + Verb
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em></em> 小气,别人 就 <em></em> 讨厌 你。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">The meaner you are, the more other people will hate you.</span>
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*天气 <em>越来越</em> 冷 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Tiānqì <em>yuèláiyuè</em> lěng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The weather is getting colder and colder.</span>
*<em></em> 不高兴,就 <em></em> 不说话。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans">The more upset , the less she talks.</span>
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*你 女儿 <em>越来越</em> 漂亮 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚér <em>yuèláiyuè</em> piàoliang <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Your daughter is getting more and more beautiful.</span>
*<em></em> ,我 就 <em></em> <span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .</span><span class="trans"> .</span>
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*你 说 得 <em>越来越</em> 好 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō de <em>yuèláiyuè</em> hǎo <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You speak better and better.</span>
 +
*技术 <em>越来越</em> 发达 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Jìshù <em>yuèláiyuè</em> fādá <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Technology is getting more and more developed.</span>
 +
*空气 污染 <em>越来越</em> 严重 <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin">Kōngqì wūrǎn <em>yuèláiyuè</em> yánzhòng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The air pollution is getting worse and worse.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Structure 3 ===
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== Used with Verbs ==
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subj. + 越 +  Verb , 越 +  Verb
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
*我 <em>越</em> 学习 中文,<em>越</em> 觉得 中文 很 难。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more I study Chinese, the more difficult I think it is.</span>
 
*<em>越</em> 批评 他,他 <em>越</em> 做 不 好。<span class="pinyin">  <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more he gets criticized, the worse he works.</span>
 
  
</div>
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=== Structure ===
 
 
=== Structure 4 ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Subj. + 越来越 + Verb +
Subj. + + Verb , 越 + Adj.
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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*<em>越来越</em> 喜欢 上海 <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"><em>yuèláiyuè</em> xǐhuan Shànghǎi <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I like Shanghai more and more.</span>
*<em></em> <em></em> 渴。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more he drinks soda, the fatter he gets.</span>
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*<em>越来越</em> 了解 我 <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"><em>yuèláiyuè</em> liǎojiě wǒ <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You know me better and better.</span>
*<em></em> <em></em> 生气。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more she talks, the angrier she gets.</span>
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*我 <em>越来越</em> 理解 我 的 父母 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yuèláiyuè</em> lǐjiě wǒ de fùmǔ <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I understand my parents more and more.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Complex Structure with Complement ==
 
 
 
You can also use "越...越..." with a complement. In this case, "越" has to follow the "得." This construction usually uses "[[State complement]]s" and "[[Result complement]]s".
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subj. + Verb 得 +越..., (Verb 得)越 ...
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
When the verb is negative in Chinese, a translation like "less and less" with a positive verb might be more appropriate in English than sticking with a "more and more" translation. The Chinese pattern doesn't change, though.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*<em>越来越</em> <strong>不</strong> 相信 他 <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"><em>yuèláiyuè</em> <strong>bù</strong> xiāngxìn tā <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I believe him less and less.</span>
*你 买 得 <em></em> <em></em> 便宜。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more you buy, the cheaper it gets.</span>
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*你 <em>越来越</em> <strong></strong> 懂 我 <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"><em>yuèláiyuè</em> <strong></strong> dǒng wǒ <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You understand me less and less.</span>
*你 说 得 <em></em> 慢,可能 我们 听 得 <em></em> 清楚。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The slower you speak, the more we'll probably be able to hear clearly.</span>
 
* 吃 得 <em></em> <em></em> 容易 胖。<span class="pinyin"> <em> </em> .<span class="trans">The more you eat, the easier it will be to get fat.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
  
 +
*[[Expressing "the more... the more..." with "yue… yue…"]]
 
*[["Along with…" Using "suizhe"]]
 
*[["Along with…" Using "suizhe"]]
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 295) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|40}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 153-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
+
{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|295}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 288-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|153-4}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 238-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|288-9}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 185) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
+
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|238-9}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (p. 340)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
+
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|185}}
 +
{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)|340}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|越来越|B1|Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. + 了|天气 <em>越来越</em> 冷 了。|grammar point|ASG7UE4H}}
 +
{{Rel char|越}}
 +
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Similar|"Along with…" Using "suizhe"}}
 
{{Similar|"Along with…" Using "suizhe"}}
{{Similar|"Even more" with "geng"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "the more... the more..." with "yue… yue…"}}
{{Basic Grammar|越… 越…|B1|越… 越…|钱 <em>越</em> 多 <em>越</em> 好。|grammar point|ASG7UE4H}}
 
{{Rel char|来}}
 
{{Rel char|越}}
 
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for| Expressing quality}}
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{{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}}
 +
{{Used for| Expressing degree}}
 
{{Translation|more}}
 
{{Translation|more}}

Latest revision as of 07:54, 4 March 2019

越来越 (yuèláiyuè) is used frequently in Chinese to express that some quality or state is increasing with time and is often translated into English as "more and more." This is the simple form of this pattern, which uses 来, but there is also a more complex one (which uses two different adjectives/verbs).

Used with Adjectives

This structure expresses that something is becoming more and more adjective over time, with the latter adjective changing with the verb. The most common structure is:

Structure

Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. + 了

Examples

  • 天气 越来越Tiānqì yuèláiyuè lěng le.The weather is getting colder and colder.
  • 你 女儿 越来越 漂亮 Nǐ nǚér yuèláiyuè piàoliang le.Your daughter is getting more and more beautiful.
  • 你 说 得 越来越Nǐ shuō de yuèláiyuè hǎo le.You speak better and better.
  • 技术 越来越 发达 Jìshù yuèláiyuè fādá le.Technology is getting more and more developed.
  • 空气 污染 越来越 严重 Kōngqì wūrǎn yuèláiyuè yánzhòng le.The air pollution is getting worse and worse.

Used with Verbs

Structure

Subj. + 越来越 + Verb + 了

Examples

  • 越来越 喜欢 上海 yuèláiyuè xǐhuan Shànghǎi le.I like Shanghai more and more.
  • 越来越 了解 我 yuèláiyuè liǎojiě wǒ le.You know me better and better.
  • 越来越 理解 我 的 父母 yuèláiyuè lǐjiě wǒ de fùmǔ le.I understand my parents more and more.

When the verb is negative in Chinese, a translation like "less and less" with a positive verb might be more appropriate in English than sticking with a "more and more" translation. The Chinese pattern doesn't change, though.

  • 越来越 相信 他 yuèláiyuè xiāngxìn tā le.I believe him less and less.
  • 越来越 懂 我 yuèláiyuè dǒng wǒ le.You understand me less and less.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books