How to say "gradually" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverb (with と)The everyday spoken word for a change that becomes more and more noticeable as it goes on, such as weather turning colder or someone getting better at something; usually written in kana alone.
- adverb (with と)An onomatopoeic word for something advancing slowly but steadily, often with a sense of creeping pressure, as when an opponent closes in little by little or discomfort slowly builds.
- 漸次ぜんじadverb, no-adjectiveA formal, written-style word for gradual, incremental change; it fits documents, announcements, and careful explanations, and is seldom what you want in ordinary conversation, where だんだん or 徐々に sounds natural.
- 徐々にじょじょにadverbThe neutral, all-purpose word for steady, measured change, such as a pace picking up, prices rising, or a patient improving little by little; at home in both writing and speech.
- 次第にしだいにadverbGradual change that unfolds naturally as time passes or as a situation develops, like the sky darkening toward evening or something becoming clear bit by bit.
Use 「だんだん」 in everyday speech for change that keeps building, 「徐々に」 or 「次第に」 for steadier, more measured change, 漸次 in formal writing, and 「ジワジワ」 for something creeping ahead slowly but steadily.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- だんだんgradually
- じわじわslowly (but steadily)
- 漸次ぜんじgradually
- 徐々にじょじょにgradually
- 次第にしだいにgradually
- 追々おいおいgradually
- ぼちぼちleisurely
- じりじりslowly (but steadily)
- じんわりgradually (progressing)
- ぼつぼつgradually
- じわりgradually
- じわりじわりgradually
- 一日一日いちにちいちにちgradually
- 次第次第にしだいしだいにgradually
- 次第次第しだいしだいgradually
- じりっslowly (but steadily)
- ようやくgradually
- そろそろslowly
- ぽつぽつbit by bit
- ようようgradually
- ひたひたsteadily (advancing)
- ずるずる(falling) little by little
See also
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