Expressing "the more... the more..." with "yue… yue…"

More than "putting stuff" after two instances of 越 (yuè) in a sentence, there are a number of very specific patterns you will notice if you want to get more sophisticated with 越 (yuè) and go beyond using the simpler 越来越 (yuèláiyuè).

Pattern with a Single Subject

Structure

Subj. + 越 ⋯⋯ ，越 ⋯⋯

Not that it's normally verbs or verb phrases following each 越, but adjectives are also possible (typically after the second 越).

Examples

• 我们 越 想 越 生气 。The more we think about it, the angrier we get.
• 我 越 看 越 喜欢 。The more I look at it, the more I like it.

Sometimes this pattern is best translated into English as "more and more," which is similar to 越来越 (yuèláiyuè).

• 他 越 跑 越 快 。He ran faster and faster.
• 雨 越 下 越 大 。The rain got heavier and heavier.

Pattern with Two Different Subjects

Structure

What follows the first 越 is mostly the reason why the second 越 phrase happens.

Subj. 1 + 越 ⋯⋯ ，Subj. 2 + 越 ⋯⋯

Again, it's normally verbs or verb phrases following each 越, but adjectives are also possible (typically after the second 越).

Examples

• 她 越 说 ，我 越 生气 。The more she talks, the angrier I get.
• 你们 越 看 我 ，我 越 紧张 。The more you look at me, the more nervous I am.
• 我 越 走 ，腿 越 痛 。The more I walk, the more my legs hurt.

The More... the Less...

Structure

越 ⋯⋯ 越 + 不 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 你 越 让 孩子 学 ，孩子 越 不 想 学 。Nǐ yuè ràng háizi xué, háizi yuè bù xiǎng xué.The more you push the kid to learn, the less he wants to learn.
• 他 越 问 ，我 越 不 想 说。Tā yuè wèn, wǒ yuè bù xiǎng shuō.The more he asks, the less I want to tell.
• 你 越 这样 说 ，他 越 不 听 。Nǐ yuè zhèyàng shuō, tā yuè bù tīng.The more you talk this way, the less he would listen.

Colloquial Saying

This pattern involves the same verb repeated after each 越. It is limited to a small number of single-syllable verbs related to sensory perception, but you do hear it used.

Structure

Subj. + 越 + Verb + 越 + 想 + Verb

Examples

• 这 本 书 我 越 看 越 想 看 。 Zhè běn shū wǒ yuè kàn yuè xiǎng kàn.The more I read this book, the more I want to read.
• 这 种 零食 让 人 越 吃 越 想 吃 。 Zhè zhǒng língshí ràng rén yuè chī yuèxiǎng chī.The more you eat it, the more you will want to eat.
• 我 吃 了 这 个 药 以后 总是 想 睡觉 ，而且 越 睡 越 想 睡 。 Wǒ chī le zhè gè yào yǐhòu zǒngshì xiǎng shuìjiào, érqiě yuè shuì yuè xiǎng shuì.I'm always so sleepy after taking this medicine. And also, the more I sleep, the more l want to sleep.

See also

• Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 75) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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