Increase Decrease, Part 1

This page is part of a "Increase, Decrease" series on mastering all of the Chinese words related to these English terms. These words are especially helpful in discussing business at an upper intermediate (B2) level.

This part focuses on the word pairs 上涨 / 涨​ ​(​shàngzhǎng / zhǎng​) and ​下跌 / 跌​ (​xiàdiē / diē​).

For the words 上涨 / 涨 (shàngzhǎng/zhǎng) and 下跌 / 跌 (xiàdiē/diē), use the translations “to rise” and “to fall” or “to go up” and “to go down.”

Structure

Use 上涨 / 涨 or 下跌 / 跌 as intransitive verbs in this way:

Subj. + 上涨 / 下跌

上涨 / 涨 and 下跌 / 跌 are intransitive verbs meaning they cannot take objects.

Common Phrases

These words are commonly used to talk about prices :

• 价格 上涨
• 房价 下跌

Example Sentences

• 中国的房价一直在上涨。

Word Order Exception

T here are two very common fixed phrases that make 涨 feel like a transitive verb (one that takes an object): 1. 涨价 (zhǎng jià), meaning “prices go up” 2. 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī), meaning “salary goes up.”

Example Sentences

• 你们又涨价了。
• 老板给我涨工资了。
• 那我也要涨工资。

Pattern Using 一直在

Structure

Subj. + 一直在+上涨 / 下跌

More advanced learners can also substitute 一直在 for 不断 (or even use both together). We won’t focus on the more advanced pattern here.

Subj. + (一直在 +) 不断 + 上涨 / 下跌

Example Sentences

• 最近2个月农产品的价格一直在上涨。
• 今年汽车的价格一直在下跌。
• 上海的物价最近一直在上涨。
• 这几年的房价一直在上涨。
• 我买的这支股票一直在下跌。