渐渐 vs 逐渐: what is the difference?
Both mean 'gradually'. 渐渐 is more everyday, as in 天渐渐亮了, and 逐渐 sounds more written, as in 逐渐提高.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 渐渐 | jiàn jiàn | Gradually, for a change that happens little by little and feels natural, mostly in speech. | subject + 渐渐 + changing verb or adjective |
| 逐渐 | zhú jiàn | Gradually, in a more written and step by step sense. | subject + 逐渐 + changing verb |
渐渐 (jiàn jiàn)
Gradually, for a change that happens little by little and feels natural, mostly in speech.
Structure: subject + 渐渐 + changing verb or adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天黑了，街上的人渐渐少了。 | Tiān hēi le, jiē shang de rén jiàn jiàn shǎo le. | It got dark and the street slowly emptied. |
| 过了几个月，我渐渐习惯了这里的生活。 | Guò le jǐ ge yuè, wǒ jiàn jiàn xí guàn le zhè lǐ de shēng huó. | After a few months I gradually got used to life here. |
| 雨渐渐小了。 | Yǔ jiàn jiàn xiǎo le. | The rain is slowly getting lighter. |
Not: 他渐渐跑进了教室。 渐渐 describes slow change, not a quick single action like running in.
逐渐 (zhú jiàn)
Gradually, in a more written and step by step sense.
Structure: subject + 逐渐 + changing verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 经过治疗，他的身体逐渐恢复了。 | Jīng guò zhì liáo, tā de shēn tǐ zhú jiàn huī fù le. | After treatment his health gradually recovered. |
| 公司的规模逐渐扩大。 | Gōng sī de guī mó zhú jiàn kuò dà. | The company is gradually growing. |
| 孩子逐渐学会了自己吃饭。 | Hái zi zhú jiàn xué huì le zì jǐ chī fàn. | The child gradually learned to eat alone. |
Not: 他逐渐关上了门。 逐渐 needs a process with stages, and closing a door is one quick act.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Time adverbs: 渐渐/逐渐/及时/立刻 (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 及时 vs 立刻 · 记住 vs 记得 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 连…都 vs 连…也 · 没有 vs 不如 · 却 vs 但是 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 渐渐 and 逐渐?
Both mean 'gradually'. 渐渐 is more everyday, as in 天渐渐亮了, and 逐渐 sounds more written, as in 逐渐提高.
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