相继

• Pinyin: xiāng jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 相 = 木 + 目 (mutual); 继 = 糸 + 㡭 (thread continuing — succession)

Meaning

One after another; in succession; successively. Describes events or actions occurring in close sequential order.

An adverb implying that a series of things happened in close temporal proximity, often with a sense of inevitability or accumulated impact. Common in news reporting, academic writing, and formal narrative.

Examples

1. 多家知名科技企业相继宣布进军新能源领域，市场竞争日趋激烈。 One well-known tech company after another has announced plans to enter the new energy sector, and competition is growing increasingly intense.
2. 近年来，一批重大科研成果相继问世，引发了国际社会的广泛关注。 In recent years, a series of major scientific breakthroughs have emerged one after another, drawing wide attention from the international community.
3. 会议结束后，各国代表相继离开会场，并向媒体发表了简短声明。 After the meeting ended, delegations from various countries left the venue one after another and gave brief statements to the media.

Usage Guide

Context: news, academic, narrative, history

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 三位创始人相继辞去管理职务，公司的发展方向随之发生重大转变。(The three founders resigned from their management positions one after another, and the company's direction underwent a significant shift as a result.)
• 各省市相继出台扶持政策，为中小企业提供了重要的发展机遇。(Provinces and municipalities issued supportive policies one after another, providing important development opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.)

Don't Say

• 他相继吃了苹果 — 相继 requires multiple subjects or a series; use 接连吃了几个苹果 for a single person eating several things in succession

Origin & History

相 (mutually/successively) + 继 (continue/follow) — following on from one another

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal