Chinese word

越来越

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuè lái yuè

Meaning

  • adverbmore and more

Example

她越来越漂亮了。tā yuè lái yuè piào liàng le

She is becoming prettier and prettier.

Illustration for 越来越 (more and more)

More examples

天气越来越冷了。tiān qì yuè lái yuè lěng le

The weather is getting colder and colder.

Core concept

A change keeps moving upward, with its strength becoming greater at each stage.

Common phrases

  • 越来越好yuè lái yuè hǎo

    better and better

  • 越来越多yuè lái yuè duō

    more and more

  • 越来越忙yuè lái yuè máng

    busier and busier

Similar words

更gèng: Indicates a higher degree or a further increase in something.
更加gèng jiā: Indicates a still higher degree, with extra force given to the increase.

Definition in Chinese

表示在时间或条件变化下程度逐渐上升，用来描述趋势，常与表示变化的词连用，如：他越来越认真了。biǎo shì zài shí jiān huò tiáo jiàn biàn huà xià chéng dù zhú jiàn shàng shēng yòng lái miáo shù qū shì cháng yǔ biǎo shì biàn huà de cí lián yòng rú tā yuè lái yuè rèn zhēn le

Word origin

越来越 (yuèláiyuè, "more and more") places 来 (lái, "come") between two uses of 越 (yuè, "more"), so the form connects movement from one stage to the next with continuing increase.

Usage tips

  • This adverb can come before a verb phrase as well as an adjective, showing that a behavior or activity is becoming stronger or more frequent.

Other meanings

  • graduallyadverb

Opposites

  • 越来越少yuè lái yuè shǎoless and lessadverb

Word lists with this word