漸 (jiàn) - Gradually & step by step

漸Tone 4

jiàn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

漸 · jiàn

Gradually;

step by step;

little by little;

to advance gradually;

to progress slowly.

Graduallystep by steplittle by little

Usage highlights

graduallyadvance graduallygradual progressgradual changegradually entergradually improve

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The weather gradually improved (天气渐渐好转).
  • He gradually adapted to the new environment (他渐渐适应了新环境).
  • The child is gradually growing up (孩子渐渐长大了).
  • The noise gradually faded away (噪音渐渐消失了).

Collocations

  • gradually(渐渐)
  • advance gradually(渐进)
  • gradual progress(渐进步)
  • gradual change(渐变)
  • gradually enter(渐入)
  • gradually improve(渐佳)

Idioms

  • Advance gradually and enter a marvelous state(渐入佳境)
  • From shallow to deep, advancing gradually(由浅入深，循序渐进)
  • The eastern wind gradually strengthens(东风渐紧)
  • The moon gradually rises over the willow tip(月上柳梢头，人约黄昏后 - with 渐 implied in the gradual rising)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, 渐 represents the concept of gradual change and accumulation, contrasting with sudden transformation.
  • The character appears in the I Ching (Book of Changes) in the hexagram 'Gradual Progress' (渐卦).
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, treatment often follows the principle of gradual improvement rather than immediate cure.

FAQ