越来越 (yuè lái yuè) — more and more | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Marks a progressive change: X gets more and more Y. Always pairs two halves with the same adjective or verb (越来越…越来越…) to show a trend over time.

adverb

more and more

越来越。
Tiān qì yuè lái yuè nuǎn huo le.
The weather is getting warmer and warmer.
越来越。
Tā de hàn yǔ shuō dé yuè lái yuè hǎo.
He speaks Chinese better and better.
越来越，。
Zhè ge wèn tí yuè lái yuè fù zá, xū yào rèn zhēn kǎo lǜ.
This problem is becoming more and more complicated; we need to consider it carefully.

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.

走戉越

Meaning part形符xíngfú

走走zǒuto walk or run

Sound part声符shēngfú

戉

戉yuè越yuè

Same sound today

越 is built from 走 (to walk or run) and 戉 (which supplies the sound); the 走 part shows the idea of going over or crossing.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.