HSK 2
越来越: More and More in Chinese
越来越 presents a quality, state, or suitable mental activity as changing progressively in one direction over time. The expression stays together before the adjective or verb phrase. Unlike 越 A 越 B, it tracks one developing tendency rather than explicitly correlating two changing conditions with each other.
STRUCTURE
Subject + 越来越 + Adjective / Mental verb
When to use 越来越… — and when not
Use it when
- Describe a growing degree: 天气越来越热。
- Describe a changing preference: 我越来越喜欢中文。
- Show a trend that unfolds over time rather than one isolated comparison.
Don't use it when
- Use 越 A 越 B when one changing condition is tied to another changing result.
- Do not insert 了 inside 越来越 and its predicate.
- Do not use it for a fixed degree with no implied development over time.
Right vs. wrong
天气越来越了热。
天气越来越热了。
The change particle splits the progressive expression from its predicate
越来越 must stay directly before 热; sentence-final 了 may mark the new situation after the predicate.
越来我越喜欢中文。
我越来越喜欢中文。
The subject is inserted inside the fixed expression
越来越 is a fixed adverbial unit and cannot be divided by the subject.
Examples
天气越来越热了。
Tiānqì yuèláiyuè rè le.
The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
我越来越喜欢学习中文。
Wǒ yuèláiyuè xǐhuan xuéxí Zhōngwén.
I like studying Chinese more and more.
这里的交通越来越方便。
Zhèlǐ de jiāotōng yuèláiyuè fāngbiàn.
Transportation here is becoming increasingly convenient.
Common mistakes
天气越来越了热。
Tiānqì yuèláiyuè le rè.
Keep 越来越热 together and place 了 after the predicate if needed.
越来我越喜欢中文。
Yuèlái wǒ yuè xǐhuan Zhōngwén.
Use the fixed unit after the subject: 我越来越喜欢中文。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 越来越… sentence and check that grammar point first.
越来越: More and More FAQ
What is the difference between 越来越 and 越...越...?
越来越 follows one developing trend. 越 A 越 B explicitly relates a changing condition A to a changing result B.
Can 越来越 modify a verb?
It commonly modifies mental or stative verbs such as 喜欢, 觉得, and 相信 when their degree can increase over time.
Related Chinese grammar points
越…越…
越...越... (yuè...yuè...)
Easy to confuse
Compare one developing trend with two correlated changing conditions.
有点儿/一点儿
有点儿 vs 一点儿: A Little
Compare
Contrast progressive change with a small fixed degree or adjustment.
时而…时而…
时而...时而... (shí'ér...shí'ér)
Compare
Separate movement in one direction from states that repeatedly alternate.