Comparing Things and Tracking Change
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of comparing things and describing continuous change in Chinese.
- Express how things are changing over time.
- Link two actions together to show cause and effect.
- Compare two items to say they are exactly the same.
Lo que aprenderás
Hey there, language explorer! Ready to take a huge leap in your Chinese journey? In this chapter, we're diving into some super cool structures that will let you compare anything and everything, and even talk about how things change over time. No more just saying 'This is big, that is big'; you'll learn to say 'This is *as big as* that!' First up, we'll master «A 跟 B 一样» (A gēn B yīyàng). With this, you can easily compare two things and say 'A is just like B' or 'A is as... as B.' Imagine shopping and saying 'This shirt is as expensive as that one.' Super useful for everyday conversations and expressing your opinions! Next, we tackle «越来越» (yuè lái yuè). This phrase is your go-to when something is continuously growing or intensifying. Think about describing the weather getting colder and colder, or how your Chinese skills are improving day by day! You'll be able to say, 'The weather is getting *more and more* cold.' It beautifully captures the feeling of ongoing change. But wait, there's more! We also have the fantastic structure «越...越...» (yuè...yuè...). This one's a game-changer! It lets you express 'the more you do X, the more Y happens.' For example, 'The more you practice, the better your Chinese becomes!' – '越练习，中文越好！' By the end of this chapter, you'll be a pro at comparing two objects or situations. You'll comfortably describe gradual changes and even explain how one change influences another. Think about how easily you can chat about the weather, compare items while shopping, or talk about your progress. You'll sound much more natural and expressive. Don't worry, these concepts are easier than you think. Let's go!
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Cada vez más (越来越)Usa «越来越» para describir una cualidad o un sentimiento que crece o se intensifica con el tiempo.
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Decir 'Cada vez más' con 越来越 (yuè lái yuè)Usa «越来越» antes de adjetivos o sentimientos para mostrar que algo cambia constantemente. Es tu pase directo para decir
cada vez más
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Gramática China: Cuanto más... más... (越...越)Usa la estructura
越...越para conectar dos cambios que ocurren al mismo tiempo, comocuanto máshaces algo,mássucede otra cosa. -
Cuanto más... más... (越...越...)Usa la estructura «越...越...» para conectar dos cambios que van de la mano, como un efecto dominó de intensidad. Tus herramientas son: «越来越» para tendencias y «越...越...» para causa y efecto.
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Expresando igualdad: 'Tan... como' (A 跟 B 一样)Conecta dos cosas con «跟» y termina con «一样» para decir que son iguales o
tan... como.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
Describe a state that is intensifying using 越来越 (yuè lái yuè).
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2
Create complex sentences where one degree of change depends on another using 越...越...
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3
Identify and state similarities between two objects using the 跟...一样 (gēn... yīyàng) structure.
Guía del capítulo
Overview
more and more. And for those cause-and-effect relationships, like the more you practice, the better you get,we'll dive into the powerful 越...越... (yuè...yuè...) structure. By the end, you'll sound much more natural and expressive, confidently describing gradual changes and comparing objects or situations like a pro!
How This Grammar Works
- Subject A + 跟 (gēn) + Subject B + 一样 (yīyàng) + (Adjective/Verb Phrase).
- Example: 这本书跟那本书一样贵。(Zhè běn shū gēn nà běn shū yīyàng guì.) (This book is as expensive as that book.)
- You can also use it with verbs to show shared actions or preferences: 我跟你一样喜欢吃辣。(Wǒ gēn nǐ yīyàng xǐhuan chī là.) (I like to eat spicy food as much as you do.)
- Subject + 越来越 (yuè lái yuè) + Adjective/Verb.
- Example: 天气越来越冷了。(Tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng le.) (The weather is getting colder and colder.)
- Example: 我的中文越来越好了。(Wǒ de Zhōngwén yuè lái yuè hǎo le.) (My Chinese is getting better and better.) This phrase beautifully captures ongoing change.
- 越 (yuè) + Clause 1 (Adjective/Verb) + 越 (yuè) + Clause 2 (Adjective/Verb).
- Example: 你越努力，成绩越好。(Nǐ yuè nǔlì, chéngjì yuè hǎo.) (The more you work hard, the better your grades will be.)
- Example: 越吃越想吃。(Yuè chī yuè xiǎng chī.) (The more you eat, the more you want to eat.) This pattern is incredibly versatile for explaining cause and effect in a concise way.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong: 这件衣服一样贵跟那件。
- 1✗ Wrong: 我的中文越来越好。
more and more something.- 1✗ Wrong: 越好越学习。
Real Conversations
A
B
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A
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Quick FAQ
Can I use different prepositions instead of 跟 with 一样?
Yes, in many contexts, you can also use 和 (hé) or 与 (yǔ) interchangeably with 跟 (gēn) for the with/and meaning in the A 跟 B 一样 structure. However, 跟 is very common in spoken Chinese.
Is 越来越 only used for positive changes?
No, 越来越 (yuè lái yuè) can describe both positive and negative changes. For example, 越来越好 (yuè lái yuè hǎo) (better and better) is positive, but 越来越差 (yuè lái yuè chà) (worse and worse) or 越来越冷 (yuè lái yuè lěng) (colder and colder) are negative or neutral.
What's the main difference between 越来越 and 越...越...?
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) describes a single subject or situation changing progressively over time (e.g.,
My Chinese is getting better and better). 越...越... (yuè...yuè...) shows a direct, cause-and-effect relationship where one action or state influences another (e.g.,
The more you practice, the better your Chinese becomes).
Do I always need to repeat the full phrase after the second 越 in 越...越...?
Not always. If the second part is clearly implied or identical to the first, you can sometimes shorten it, especially with adjectives. For instance, 越忙越快乐 (yuè máng yuè kuàilè) (The busier, the happier) is perfectly natural, omitting a full verb phrase.
Cultural Context
Ejemplos clave (2)
Consejos y trucos (4)
La Zona Sin Adverbios
La trampa del '很'
Suena más natural
¡Prohibido el 'Hěn'!
Vocabulario clave (7)
Real-World Preview
Shopping at the Mall
Language Progress
Review Summary
- Subj. + 越来越 + Adj./Verb
- 越 + Action A + 越 + Action B/Adj.
- A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adj.)
Errores comunes
You cannot use '很' (hěn) with '越来越' because '越来越' already contains the meaning of 'very' or 'more'.
Learners often forget '一样' (yīyàng) and just say 'A 跟 B 贵', which is incorrect. You need '一样' to complete the comparison.
In the '越...越...' structure, the subject must come before the '越', not after it.
Reglas en este capítulo (5)
Next Steps
You've just unlocked a huge part of natural-sounding Chinese. Keep practicing these structures, and you'll find yourself describing the world with much more color!
Look at the weather forecast and describe the temperature change for the week using 越来越.
Find two similar items in your room and compare them using 跟...一样.
Práctica rápida (3)
Find and fix the mistake:
{我|wǒ}越来越{想|xiǎng}{很|hěn}买{新|xīn}{手机|shǒujī}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cada vez más (越来越)
Selecciona la forma correcta de decir 'Él está cada vez más ocupado'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cada vez más (越来越)
{天气|tiānqì} ___ {冷|lěng}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cada vez más (越来越)
Score: /3
Preguntas frecuentes (6)
Sujeto + 越 + Acción + 越 + Resultado. Por ejemplo: «我越吃越胖».
