Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue"

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"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

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:

Subject + 越来越 + Adjective

Examples

  • 汽油 贵。 Gasoline is getting more and more expensive.
  • 美国 的 音乐 流行。American music is getting more and more fashionable.
  • 她 的 数学 成绩 好。Her math grade is getting better and better.

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.)

越 + Adjective , 越 + Adjective

Subject + 越 + Adjective , 越 + Adjective

Examples

  • 不耐烦。Oh, the busier I am, the more impatient I am.
  • 我 觉得 窗子 好看。
  • 好。
  • 多,这 个 甜品 不 好 吃。

越 + Adjective , 越 + Verb

Subject + 越 + Adjective , 越 + Verb

Examples

  • 懒,别人 就 讨厌 你。
  • 生气,就 喜欢 吃 东西。

越 + Verb , 越 + Verb

Subject + 越 + Verb , 越 + Verb

Examples

  • 学习 中文, 觉得 中文 很 难。
  • 批评 他,他 不 好 好 做。

越 + Verb , 越 + Adjective

Subject + 越 + Verb , 越 + Adjective

Examples

  • 喝 可乐 胖。The more he drinks soda, the fatter he gets.
  • 生气。The more she talks, the angrier she gets.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books