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渐入佳境 (jiàn rù jiā jìng) — to get better and better; to go from good to great; a situation that improves steadily

Definition

Chengyu meaning a situation steadily improves after a slow or mediocre start. Used to praise films, work, or learning curves once they 'click'.

idiom
to get better and betterto go from good to greata situation that improves steadily

Examples

  • ，，。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng kāi tóu yì bān, dàn hòu miàn jiàn rù jiā jìng, jié jú tè bié gǎn rén.
    This movie started off so-so, but then it got better and better, and the ending was especially moving.
  • ，，。
    Tā gāng dào gōng sī shí bú tài shì yìng, hòu lái gōng zuò jiàn rù jiā jìng, hěn kuài jiù shēng zhí le.
    He didn't adapt well when he first joined the company, but later his work improved steadily, and he was promoted quickly.
  • ，。
    Xué wài yǔ de guò chéng shì jiàn rù jiā jìng de, jiān chí xià lái jiù huì fā xiàn yuè lái yuè róng yì.
    Learning a foreign language is a process that gets better and better; if you persevere, you'll find it becomes easier and easier.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Open 入 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman; person
Sound part声符shēngfú
圭
圭guī佳jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

佳 combines 人 (person) with 圭, which is used for the sound guī.

Open 佳 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
竟
竟jìng境jìng
Same sound today

境 pairs 土 (earth) with 竟, which gives the sound; the 土 part carries the meaning.

Open 境 →
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