Grammar · 语法 yǔfǎ · Degree & Change 程度变化

越来越

yuèláiyuè

The continuous escalation pattern: a quality or state growing steadily over time. "More and more cold," "increasingly popular," "getting harder and harder."

~4 min read

字源 zìyuán Etymology — 越 to Surpass, to Cross Over

字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

越 yuè = 走 zǒu (to move) + 戉 yuè (a battle-axe: something that cuts through). To move by cutting through: to cross, to surpass, to go beyond a boundary. 越 is used for crossing rivers (越过), exceeding limits (越界), and surpassing standards (越来越 = surpassing further and further, "more and more").

In 越来越, the structure is: 越 (surpass) + 来 (come) + 越 (surpass). The 来 here functions as a linking element, not the directional "come." The tripling encodes a continuous crossing of thresholds: each time, the bar is cleared and a new one set. 越来越 describes an active, ongoing process of exceeding, not a fixed state.

越 also appears in the name of the ancient state of Yue 越国 (in modern Zhejiang/Fujian) and in the name for Vietnam (越南 Yuènán , south of Yue).

句型框架 jùxíng kuàngjià Structure — 越来越 + Adj/Verb

基本框架 jīběn kuàngjià · Basic Frame [Subject] + 越来越 + [Adj/Verb] (+ 了 optional, confirms change)

天气越来越冷了。The weather is getting colder and colder.
他的中文越来越好。His Chinese is getting better and better.
我越来越喜欢这里。I like it here more and more.

越来越 + adjective yuèláiyuè + adj getting more and more [adj]

Pattern 句型 jùxíng

The most common pattern. 越来越 before a stative adjective describes a gradual change in degree over time. The optional 了 at the end confirms that the change is ongoing or has taken effect.

这个城市越来越大了。

Zhège chéngshì yuèláiyuè dà le.

This city is getting bigger and bigger.

她的声音越来越小，最后消失了。

Tā de shēngyīn yuèláiyuè xiǎo, zuìhòu xiāoshī le.

Her voice got quieter and quieter, and finally disappeared.

学中文越来越有意思。

Xué Zhōngwén yuèláiyuè yǒu yìsi.

Learning Chinese is getting more and more interesting.

语法 yǔfǎ · Important Constraint 越来越 cannot be used with adjectives of fixed, inherent properties. You cannot say 越来越四 (more and more "four") , the quality must be gradable. Also, 越来越 does not use 很 or 非常 before the adjective: ✗ 越来越很好. The 越来越 itself carries degree intensification.

越来越 + verb yuèláiyuè + V doing [verb] more and more

Pattern 句型 jùxíng

越来越 also works before verbs that describe mental states or incremental behaviors: 越来越喜欢 (like more and more), 越来越担心 (worry more and more), 越来越依赖 (rely on more and more).

我越来越觉得他说的有道理。

Wǒ yuèláiyuè juéde tā shuō de yǒu dàolǐ.

I increasingly feel that what he says makes sense.

越…越 yuè … yuè The 越…越 Frame — The More X, the More Y

越…越框架 · The Correlative Frame [Subject] + 越 [condition/action] + 越 [result/state]

越吃越胖 , the more you eat, the fatter you get
越说越乱 , the more it's explained, the more confused it gets
越想越难受 , the more I think about it, the worse I feel

越…越 yuè … yuè the more … the more

Pattern 句型 jùxíng

A correlative frame where one increasing quality drives another. The first 越 is tied to the condition/cause; the second to the escalating result. Both sides must be gradable. This structure is extremely productive and versatile, a signature pattern of fluent Chinese.

她越唱越好听。

Tā yuè chàng yuè hǎotīng.

The more she sings, the better it sounds.

这本书越看越有意思。

Zhè běn shū yuè kàn yuè yǒu yìsi.

The more you read this book, the more interesting it gets.

他越紧张，说得越不好。

Tā yuè jǐnzhāng, shuō de yuè bù hǎo.

The more nervous he gets, the worse he speaks.

否定形式 fǒudìng xíngshì Negation — 越来越不…

否定 fǒudìng · Negation Pattern 越来越不 + [adj/verb] , increasingly less; less and less

越来越不好 yuè lái yuè bù hǎo, getting worse and worse
越来越不想去 yuè lái yuè bù xiǎng qù, less and less willing to go
越来越不像话 yuè lái yuè bù xiànghuà, increasingly out of line

辨析 biànxī 越来越 vs. 更 vs. 越发

词 Cí	语义 Yǔyì	语域 Yǔyù	例 Lì
越来越	continuous gradual increase over time	everyday; spoken and written	越来越冷了 getting colder and colder
更 gèng	comparative step: "even more; more than before"	neutral; both registers	今天更冷 today is even colder
越发 yuèfā	continuous increase; more literary/emphatic than 越来越	written; slightly formal	越发严重 increasingly serious