“Gradually” in Chinese – jiànjiàn

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 漸漸渐渐 jiànjiàn means “gradually” or “little by little” in English. It is often used to describe a process or development that happens gradually, step by step, without sudden or abrupt changes.

Structure

Jiànjiàn + V or Adj

4 月yuè開始kāishǐ天氣tiānqì會huì漸漸jiànjiàn暖和nuǎnhuo起來qǐlái4 月yuè开始kāishǐ天气tiānqì会huì渐渐jiànjiàn暖和nuǎnhuo起来qǐlái
The weather will gradually become warmer starting from April.

孩子háizi們men都dōu漸漸jiànjiàn長大zhǎngdà了le， 父母fùmǔ卻què漸漸jiànjiàn老lǎo了le孩子háizi们men都dōu渐渐jiànjiàn长大zhǎngdà了le， 父母fùmǔ却què渐渐jiànjiàn老lǎo了le
The children are gradually growing up, while the parents are getting older.

我wǒ漸漸jiànjiàn開始kāishǐ覺得juéde做zuò這個zhège網站wǎngzhàn很hěn麻煩máfán我wǒ渐渐jiànjiàn开始kāishǐ觉得juéde做zuò这个zhège网站wǎngzhàn很hěn麻烦máfán
I’m slowly starting to feel that running this website is becoming troublesome.

他tā沒想到méixiǎngdào會huì漸漸jiànjiàn愛上àishàng自己zìjǐ最好的zuìhǎode朋友péngyǒu他tā没想到méixiǎngdào会huì渐渐jiànjiàn爱上àishang自己zìjǐ最好的zuìhǎode朋友péngyou
He didn’t expect to gradually fall in love with his best friend.

我wǒ漸漸jiànjiàn習慣xíguàn了le中國Zhōngguó的de家庭jiātíng文化wénhuà我wǒ渐渐jiànjiàn习惯xíguàn了le中国Zhōngguó的de家庭jiātíng文化wénhuà
I am slowly getting used to the family culture in China.

FYI
In China, there’s something called 孝順顺 xiàoshùn, which means being really respectful and caring toward your parents. It’s a big part of family culture here. Kids often show a lot of respect, obedience, and care for their parents and elders, following Confucian values. This implies that you shouldn’t have your own opinions; you should always listen to what your parents say. Imagine that!

我wǒ和hé他tā的de路lù漸漸jiànjiàn越走越遠yuèzǒuyuèyuǎn我wǒ和hé他tā的de路lù渐渐jiànjiàn越走越远yuèzǒuyuèyuǎn
Our paths are gradually diverging.

A Song Called Jiànjiàn

The lyrics of this song don’t really follow Chinese grammar. So, if you find it hard to understand, just skip it. There’s no need to put too much effort into it.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Certain individuals are gradually fading away from my life

有的人yǒuderén漸漸jiànjiàn從cóng我的wǒde生命shēngmìng中zhōng消失xiāoshī有的人yǒuderén渐渐jiànjiàn从cóng我的wǒde生命shēngmìng中zhōng消失xiāoshī

✔️ I’m also slowly forgetting about some significant people and events.

我wǒ也yě漸漸jiànjiàn忘了wàngle一些yìxiē重要的zhòngyàode人rén和hé事shì我wǒ也yě渐渐jiànjiàn忘了wàngle一些yìxiē重要的zhòngyàode人rén和hé事shì

✔️ Slowly, I can’t remember the you whom I loved.

我wǒ漸漸jiànjiàn想不起來xiǎngbùqǐlái我wǒ愛ài的de那個nàge你nǐ我wǒ渐渐jiànjiàn想不起来xiǎngbùqǐlái我wǒ爱ài的de那个nàge你nǐ