Usage note
渐渐表示慢慢地。
jiàn jiàn biǎo shì màn màn dì。
渐渐 means gradually or slowly.
Context note
渐渐常用于变化、过程和时间。
jiàn jiàn cháng yòng yú biàn huà 、 guò chéng hé shí jiān。
It is often used with changes, processes, and time.
5 examples
天渐渐黑了。
tiān jiàn jiàn hēi le。
It gradually got dark.
他渐渐明白了。
tā jiàn jiàn míng bái le。
He gradually understood.
我们渐渐熟悉了。
wǒ men jiàn jiàn shú xī le。
We gradually became familiar.
声音渐渐小了。
shēng yīn jiàn jiàn xiǎo le。
The sound gradually became quieter.
天气渐渐变暖。
tiān qì jiàn jiàn biàn nuǎn。
The weather gradually became warmer.
5 mini stories
孩子渐渐长大了。
hái zi jiàn jiàn zhǎng dà le。
The child gradually grew up.
老师说，渐渐就会习惯。
lǎo shī shuō， jiàn jiàn jiù huì xí guàn。
The teacher said you will gradually get used to it.
他们渐渐明白了规则。
tā men jiàn jiàn míng bái le guī zé。
They gradually understood the rules.
风渐渐停了。
fēng jiàn jiàn tíng le。
The wind gradually stopped.
她渐渐喜欢上了这座城市。
tā jiàn jiàn xǐ huan shàng le zhè zuò chéng shì。
She gradually came to like this city.
Mini dialogue
天气变暖
A
天气渐渐暖和了。
Tiānqì jiànjiàn nuǎnhuo le.
The weather is gradually getting warmer.
B
是啊，我们可以多去外面运动了。
Shì a, wǒmen kěyǐ duō qù wàimiàn yùndòng le.
Yes, we can go outside to exercise more often.
学习进步
A
你的中文说得越来越好了。
Nǐ de Zhōngwén shuō de yuèláiyuè hǎo le.
Your Chinese is getting better and better.
B
谢谢，我渐渐能看懂中文书了。
Xièxie, wǒ jiànjiàn néng kàn dǒng Zhōngwén shū le.
Thank you, I am gradually able to read Chinese books.
Related words and contrasts
similar
慢慢
mànmàn
slowly
渐渐 emphasizes a gradual change over time, while 慢慢 simply means slowly.
similar
逐渐
zhújiàn
gradually
逐渐 is a more formal synonym of 渐渐.
opposite
突然
tūrán
suddenly
渐渐 means gradually, while 突然 means suddenly.