Definition
愈 (yù) is a formal/literary adverb used in the pattern 愈…愈… to mean 'the more…the more…' (e.g., 愈努力愈成功 'the harder you work, the more successful you are'). It can also appear as 愈发 or 愈加 to mean 'increasingly, even more' — more formal than 更/更加, and unlike 日益/日趋 it doesn't carry the 'day by day' nuance.
adverb
used in the pattern 愈…愈… to mean 'the more…the more…'increasinglymore and more (often in 愈发)
Easily confused
- 偷tōulook-alike(verb) to steal
- 与yǔsound-alike(conjunction) and (formal, connecting nouns)
- 于yúsound-alike(preposition) at, in, on (used in formal/literary contexts for time or place)
- 鱼yúsound-alikefish
- 雨yǔsound-alikerain
- 余yúsound-alike(verb) to have leftover; to remain
- 玉yùsound-alikejade (a precious stone, often culturally symbolic in Chinese contexts)
Examples
- 愈愈。Yǔ yù xià yù dà.The rain is falling harder and harder.
- 愈，愈。Xuéxí yù nǔlì, chéngjì yù hǎo.The harder you study, the better your grades.
- 。Qíngkuàng biàn de yùfā fùzá le.The situation has become even more complicated.
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