越

• Pinyin: yuè
• Hanzi breakdown: 越 = 走 (walk/run) + 戉 (phonetic component, a type of axe)

Meaning

More; increasingly. Used in the pattern 越...越... to express 'the more X, the more Y.'

Most commonly appears in the structure 越...越... (the more...the more...). For example, 越吃越胖 (the more you eat, the fatter you get). Also used in 越来越 (more and more). A core adverb for expressing progressive change or comparison.

Examples

1. 天气越来越热了。 The weather is getting hotter and hotter.
2. 他越说越快，我听不懂。 He spoke faster and faster — I couldn't understand.
3. 这个故事越看越有意思。 This story gets more interesting the more you read it.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 越努力越幸运。(The harder you work, the luckier you get.)
• 雨越下越大了。(The rain is getting heavier and heavier.)

Don't Say

• 我越喜欢这个。(Don't use 越 alone to mean 'more' — use 更 for simple comparisons: 我更喜欢这个. 越 needs the 越...越... pattern.)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to cross over' or 'to surpass.' The adverbial use of 'increasingly' derives from the idea of surpassing a previous level.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal