趋于

• Pinyin: qū yú
• Hanzi breakdown: 趋 = 走 + 刍 (walk toward/trend — moving with purpose); 于 = 于 (toward/at/in — directional particle)

Meaning

To tend toward; to approach a certain state; to be moving in the direction of a condition.

趋于稳定 (trending toward stability), 趋于成熟 (approaching maturity), 趋于复杂 (becoming more complex) are very common collocations. Describes a gradual, ongoing movement toward a new state.

Examples

1. 经过数月调控，该地区的房价已逐渐趋于平稳。 After months of regulation, housing prices in the region have gradually stabilized.
2. 随着年龄的增长，她的性格趋于内敛，不再像年轻时那样张扬。 As she’s gotten older, her personality has become more reserved, no longer as flamboyant as when she was young.
3. 全球气候治理合作趋于多元化，越来越多的非政府组织参与其中。 Global cooperation on climate governance is becoming more diverse, with more and more NGOs taking part.

Usage Guide

Context: analysis, economics, policy, academic writing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 当前国际局势趋于复杂，各方利益博弈日趋激烈，多边合作面临前所未有的挑战。(The current international situation is trending toward greater complexity, with intensifying competition among various interests and unprecedented challenges to multilateral cooperation.)
• 经过长期治理，这片曾经严重污染的水域水质趋于好转，本地鱼类种群数量也在缓慢恢复。(After long-term remediation, the water quality of this once severely polluted area has been trending toward improvement, and local fish populations are slowly recovering.)

Don't Say

• 这个数值趋于到零 — the correct form is 趋于零 (without 到); 趋于 already contains the directional meaning of 'toward,' making 到 redundant

Origin & History

趋 (move toward/trend) + 于 (toward/at) — to move or trend toward a state

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal