Chinese word

越

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuè

Meaning

  • conjunctionthe more ___ the more ___

Example

你越学越明白。nǐ yuè xué yuè míng bái

The more you study, the more you understand.

Illustration for 越 (the more ___ the more ___)

More examples

天气越冷，我们穿得越多。tiān qì yuè lěng wǒ men chuān de yuè duō

The colder it gets, the more clothes we wear.

Core concept

Going further in one measure brings a corresponding shift in another.

Common phrases

  • 越...越...yuè yuè

    the more ___ the more ___

  • 越早越好yuè zǎo yuè hǎo

    the earlier the better

  • 越学越明白yuè xué yuè míng bái

    the more you study the more you understand

Definition in Chinese

用作连接词，表示前项程度增加时后项随之变化，常见句型为“越...越...”，例：你越学越明白。yòng zuò lián jiē cí biǎo shì qián xiàng chéng dù zēng jiā shí hòu xiàng suí zhī biàn huà cháng jiàn jù xíng wèi yuè yuè lì nǐ yuè xué yuè míng bái

Word origin

The older meaning of 越 (yuè, "to cross or surpass") provides the image of passing one level and reaching a further one, which suits its grammatical use for linked changes in degree.

Usage tips

  • The two parts can describe one subject, so the pattern is useful for connecting increased practice with a change in ability or understanding.

Related words

Word lists with this word