Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue"
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Keywords
越来越 (yuèláiyuè) 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).
Contents
Using 越来越 before an Adjective
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 冷 了。The weather is getting colder and colder.
- 你 女儿 越来越 漂亮 了。Your daughter is getting more and more beautiful.
- 你 做 的 菜 越来越 好吃 了。The food that you cook is more and more delicious.
- 汽油 越来越 贵 了。Gasoline is getting more and more expensive.
- 上海 的 房价 越来越 高 了。The housing price in Shanghai is getting higher and higher.
Using 越来越 before a Verb
It's mainly psychological verbs that can be used in this way.
Structure
Subj. + 越来越 + Verb + 了
Examples
- 来 中国 以后，他 越来越 喜欢 吃 辣 了。After he came to China, he likes eating spicy food more and more.
- 我 越来越 想 家 了。I'm getting more and more homesick.
- 大家 越来越 习惯 当地 的 生活 了。Everyone is getting more and more used to local life.
- 你 越来越 会 做 菜 了。You're getting better and better at cooking.
- 有 了 孩子 以后，我 越来越 能 理解 我 自己 的 父母 了。After I have my own kid, I can understand my own parents more and more.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 295) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 153-4) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 288-9) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 238-9) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 185) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 340)→buy
