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逐渐 (zhú jiàn) — gradually

Definition

逐渐 describes a slow, steady change in one thing or situation over time. Unlike 逐步 (step-by-step, planned progress) or 陆续 (one after another, in sequence), 逐渐 has no sense of separate steps — just gradual shift.

adverb
gradually

Examples

  • 逐渐。
    Tā de shēn tǐ zhú jiàn huī fù le jiàn kāng.
    His body gradually recovered its health.
  • ，逐渐。
    Suí zhe jīng jì fā zhǎn, rén men de shēng huó zhú jiàn gǎi shàn le.
    With economic development, people's lives gradually improved.
  • 逐渐。
    Zhè ge xí guàn shì zài bù zhī bù jué zhōng zhú jiàn yǎng chéng de.
    This habit was gradually formed unconsciously.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

逐zhúgradually
渐jiàngradually

逐 and 渐 both give the sense of little by little.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 辵辵chuòwalking
  • 豕豕shǐpig

逐 joins 辵, shown as walking, with 豕, a pig, to picture someone chasing a pig.

Open 逐 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 漸; 渐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
斬
斬zhǎn漸jiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 漸 pairs 氵, a water part, with 斬, which gives the sound; the simplified 渐 is a later shorthand.

Open 渐 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 4Change & Process

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