随着 (along with, as)
Meaning
随着 means 'along with,' 'as,' or 'following' and is used to express that one thing changes or develops in conjunction with another. It highlights a cause-and-effect relationship where a change in one factor leads to a change in another.
随着 introduces a changing condition that triggers or accompanies another change. It is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts, especially in news reports, essays, and academic writing to describe trends, developments, and evolving situations. The structure typically pairs a changing factor (often involving time, technology, or social development) with its resulting effect. Unlike 跟着 which means physically following someone, 随着 is abstract and describes parallel progression. The clause after 随着 usually describes a gradual process, and the main clause describes the resulting change. It often co-occurs with adverbs like 也, 越来越, or 逐渐 in the main clause to emphasize the progressive nature of the change.
Examples
- 随着天气变冷，街上的行人越来越少了。 As the weather gets colder, there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street.
- 随着科技的发展，人们的生活变得更方便了。 With the development of technology, people's lives have become more convenient.
- 随着年龄的增长，他变得越来越成熟。 As he gets older, he has become more and more mature.
Usage Guide
Context: written, formal, news, academic
Tone: analytical
Do Say
- 随着时间的推移，伤口慢慢愈合了。
- 随着城市化的加速，农村人口不断减少。
- 随着互联网的普及，网上购物已经很普遍了。
Don't Say
- 随着他走了。(随着 is for abstract parallel changes, not physical following — use 跟着 for physically following someone) → 跟着他走了。
- 随着明天会下雨。(随着 requires a changing condition, not a single future event — use 因为 or remove 随着) → 明天可能会下雨。
Origin & History
随 means 'to follow' and 着 serves as a verb particle indicating an ongoing state. Together, 随着 conveys the idea of one thing 'following along with' another, capturing the notion of parallel or consequential change.
Cultural Context
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Related Phrases
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