随着: along with / as…progresses
随着 (suí zhe) is a preposition meaning as or along with, naming a change that happens together with another change. It opens a sentence as 随着 + noun phrase, as in 随着经济的发展, and the result clause follows after a comma.
In English
随着 is a preposition meaning 'along with' or 'as'. It links two things that change together: as the first one develops, the second one changes too. The thing after 随着 should be a noun phrase that describes a change, such as 经济的发展 or 年龄的增长, or a short clause like 天气变冷.
The result clause follows after a comma. It does not work with a single completed action, because it needs a process that moves over time.
随着 (suí zhe) 表示两件事同步变化：一件事进展时，另一件事也随之改变。
结构: 随着 + NP (+ 的 + 变化动词) + , + 结果句
常见搭配:
- 随着 经济的发展 … (as the economy develops)
- 随着 年龄的增长 … (as age increases)
- 随着 时间的推移 … (as time passes)
- 随着 技术的进步 … (as technology advances)
✅ 随着天气变冷，大家都穿上了厚衣服。
✅ 随着练习增多，她的水平逐渐提高了。
❌ 随着我去了北京。(随着 requires a change/progress noun phrase, not just an action)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 随着互联网的发展，人们获取信息的方式发生了巨大变化。 | Suí zhe hù lián wǎng de fā zhǎn, rén men huò qǔ xìn xī de fāng shì fā shēng le jù dà biàn huà. | As the internet developed, the way people access information underwent tremendous change. | 随着 + NP 的发展 + result clause — a typical formal pattern; 发生变化 is a common result phrase |
| 随着年龄的增长，他越来越明白父母的辛苦。 | Suí zhe nián líng de zēng zhǎng, tā yuè lái yuè míng bai fù mǔ de xīn kǔ. | As he grew older, he came to understand more and more how hard his parents worked. | 随着年龄的增长 is a set phrase; 越来越 often pairs with 随着 to show parallel increase |
| 随着练习时间的增加，她弹钢琴的水平慢慢提高了。 | Suí zhe liàn xí shí jiān de zēng jiā, tā tán gāng qín de shuǐ píng màn màn tí gāo le. | As her practice time increased, her piano level gradually improved. | 随着 + increase in one factor → improvement in another; parallel progression |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
随着 (suí zhe)
A preposition meaning 'as' or 'along with' that names a change which the result clause follows.
Structure: 随着 + change phrase, + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 随着天气变暖，公园里的人多起来了。 | Suí zhe tiān qì biàn nuǎn, gōng yuán lǐ de rén duō qǐ lái le. | As the weather warms up, more people come to the park. |
| 随着城市的发展，这里的路越来越宽。 | Suí zhe chéng shì de fā zhǎn, zhè lǐ de lù yuè lái yuè kuān. | As the city develops, the roads here get wider and wider. |
| 随着孩子长大，父母也慢慢老了。 | Suí zhe hái zi zhǎng dà, fù mǔ yě màn màn lǎo le. | As the children grow up, the parents slowly grow old. |
Not: 随着我昨天去商店，买了很多东西。 随着 needs a change or process, not a single finished action.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
随着 is also explained in: Preposition 随着 (along with, as) (HSK 5).
Compared side by side: 随着 vs 跟着.
What this opens up
These patterns list 随着 among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about 随着
What does 随着 mean in Chinese?
随着 (suí zhe) is a preposition meaning as or along with, naming a change that happens together with another change. It opens a sentence as 随着 + noun phrase, as in 随着经济的发展, and the result clause follows after a comma. It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 随着 in a sentence?
随着互联网的发展，人们获取信息的方式发生了巨大变化。 — Suí zhe hù lián wǎng de fā zhǎn, rén men huò qǔ xìn xī de fāng shì fā shēng le jù dà biàn huà. — As the internet developed, the way people access information underwent tremendous change. 随着 + NP 的发展 + result clause — a typical formal pattern; 发生变化 is a common result phrase.
Where does 随着 come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 4, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 随着 lead to?
Preposition 随着 (along with, as) (HSK 5). Each of them names 随着 among its own prerequisites.
Can 随着 come in the middle of a sentence?
Yes, but it is most natural at the start. 人们的生活水平随着经济发展不断提高。 works, and the change phrase still comes right after 随着.
What is the difference between 随着 and 跟着?
随着 links two changes, as in 随着年龄增长. 跟着 means to follow someone or something physically, as in 跟着老师读。
随着 is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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