～につれて / ～につれ

• Reading: につれて
• Romaji: ni tsurete
• Formation: Verb dictionary form + につれて / Noun + につれて
• Kanji breakdown: 連: connect, link — suggests things linked together in change

Meaning

Expresses that as one thing changes, another thing changes proportionally or correspondingly. Equivalent to 'as' or 'in proportion to' in English.

This pattern connects two gradual, simultaneous changes and emphasizes that one change brings about or accompanies another. The first clause describes a progressing change, and the second clause describes what happens as a result. につれ is a slightly more literary variant of につれて. Unlike とともに, which can also mean 'together with' in a non-temporal sense, につれて focuses specifically on proportional or correlated change over time. It is commonly confused with にしたがって, but につれて tends to describe more natural, spontaneous changes rather than following rules or instructions.

Examples

1. 季節が変わるにつれて、街の景色も変わっていく。 As the seasons change, the scenery of the town also changes.
2. 年齢を重ねるにつれ、健康の大切さを実感する。 As I get older, I truly feel the importance of health.
3. 技術が進歩するにつれて、生活はますます便利になった。 As technology has advanced, life has become increasingly convenient.

Usage Guide

Context: written, spoken, formal speech

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 経験を積むにつれて、仕事に自信がついてきた。
• 夜が深まるにつれ、気温がどんどん下がった。
• 都市化が進むにつれて、自然環境が失われている。

Don't Say

• ボタンを押すにつれて、ドアが開いた。(Using につれて for an instantaneous action — it requires gradual change, not a single event) → ボタンを押すと、ドアが開いた。
• 雨が降るにつれて、傘を持っていった。(The second clause describes a one-time decision, not a gradual change matching the first) → 雨が強くなるにつれて、道がどんどん滑りやすくなった。

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 連れる (tsureru, to lead or take along). Literally suggests being 'led along' by a change, hence the meaning of one thing changing in tandem with another.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal