渐

漸

jiān, jiàn

斩 + 氵

Definitions

jiàn (adjective,adverb) gradual; gradually

jiān (verb) to imbue

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 斩 represents the sound. Simplified form of 漸.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 斩

About

渐 (traditional 漸) combines the water radical 氵, indicating meaning, with the phonetic component 斬 (simplified to 斩), which means "to chop or sever" and provides the sound. Its earliest sense referred to the slow, steady flow of a river or water gradually soaking in. This physical image of slow seepage led to the abstract adverbial meaning "gradually, step by step", and today the character typically expresses incremental progress rather than sudden change.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天渐渐黑了。

Tiān jiànjiàn hēi le.

The sky gradually darkened.

他的病渐渐好转了。

Tā de bìng jiànjiàn hǎozhuǎn le.

His illness is gradually improving.

我对这个城市逐渐熟悉起来。

Wǒ duì zhège chéngshì zhújiàn shúxī qǐlái.

I am gradually becoming familiar with this city.

两人渐行渐远，没了联系。

Liǎng rén jiàn xíng jiàn yuǎn, méi le liánxì.

The two gradually grew apart and lost contact.

改革的成效正在逐渐显现。

Gǎigé de chéngxiào zhèngzài zhújiàn xiǎnxiàn.

The effects of the reform are gradually becoming apparent。

她的态度发生了渐进式的转变。

Tā de tàidu fāshēng le jiànjìn shì de zhuǎnbiàn.

Her attitude underwent a gradual转变。

通过渐进的方法，他掌握了技巧。

Tōngguò jiànjìn de fāngfǎ, tā zhǎngwò le jìqiǎo。

Through a gradual method, he mastered the skill.

城市化进程逐渐加快，带来了新的挑战。

Chéngshìhuà jìnchéng zhújiàn jiākuài, dài lái le xīn de tiǎozhàn.

The urbanization process is gradually accelerating, bringing new challenges.

Related Characters

Component: 斩

Component: 氵

渐