Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Gradually,” “little by little,” “by degrees,” “progressively.”
🎯 Primary Function
To describe a change that occurs slowly and incrementally over a period of time, often naturally or subtly, without a sudden shift. It emphasizes the continuous, steady progression of a state or action.
📋 Grammar Structure
次第に + Verb (e.g., 変わる、増える、減る、慣れる、進む)
次第に + Adjective (e.g., 暖かくなる、難しくなる)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in formal speech and writing, especially when discussing natural phenomena, societal trends, or personal development that unfolds over time.
Informal Situations
Can be used, but more casual alternatives like 「だんだん」 might be more common. 「次第に」 adds a slightly more refined or literary tone.
Written Language
Very common in academic texts, news articles, official reports, and literature to describe processes, transformations, or developments.
Spoken Language
Used in spoken Japanese, particularly when explaining a process or a change in a more formal or descriptive manner.
💡 Common Applications
Describing natural phenomena or environmental changes.
Used to express how weather, seasons, or natural conditions evolve slowly.
Example: 秋が深まるにつれて、葉の色が次第に赤くなっていった。(As autumn deepened, the color of the leaves gradually turned red.)
Describing the progression of a situation, emotion, or physical state.
Applicable for changes in one’s feelings, health, or the general state of affairs.
Example: 彼の病状は次第に回復に向かっている。(His illness is gradually moving towards recovery.)
Describing a slow development, improvement, or decline.
Used for processes like learning, skill acquisition, or the deterioration of something over time.
Example: 日本語の勉強を続けるうちに、次第に話せるようになった。(As I continued studying Japanese, I gradually became able to speak it.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent, particularly in written Japanese and more descriptive spoken contexts. It’s a key N2 adverb for expressing nuanced gradual change.
Difficulty
N2. The concept itself is straightforward, but mastering its nuances and distinguishing it from similar adverbs requires a solid understanding.
Example Sentences
練習を重ねるごとに、次第に自信がついてきた。
As I continued practicing, I gradually gained confidence.
夕焼けが次第に空全体に広がっていった。
The sunset gradually spread across the entire sky.
外国の生活にも、次第に慣れてきた。
I’ve gradually gotten used to life in a foreign country.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphasizes a continuous, often imperceptible, change.
「次第に」 describes a process where changes occur in small, unnoticeable steps, making the overall transition smooth rather than abrupt. It’s about the journey of change.
Example: 季節が変わり、桜の花が次第に咲き始めた。(As the season changed, the cherry blossoms gradually began to bloom.)
Focus on the process, not just the result.
While the result is evident, 「次第に」 highlights the unfolding of the change over time.
Example: 彼の日本語は、留学を経て次第に上達した。(His Japanese gradually improved after studying abroad.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 「次第に」 for sudden or rapid changes.
✅ Use adverbs like 「急に (kyuu ni)」 or 「あっという間に (atto iu ma ni)」 for sudden changes, or 「どんどん (don don)」 for rapid, vigorous changes.
「次第に」 specifically conveys a slow, gradual progression. Misusing it for quick changes will sound unnatural.
❌ Confusing 「次第に」 with 「だんだん」 or 「どんどん」 in formal contexts where 「次第に」 or 「徐々に」 would be more appropriate.
✅ In formal writing or when describing very subtle, natural processes, prefer 「次第に」 or 「徐々に」.
While 「だんだん」 is generally interchangeable in many casual situations, 「次第に」 carries a slightly more formal or literary tone, making it a better choice for formal contexts.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly formal. It doesn’t carry a specific politeness level itself but fits well in contexts where a refined or objective description is preferred.
Social Situations: Applicable in a wide range of situations, from describing personal growth to explaining scientific phenomena. Its slightly formal nuance makes it suitable for presentations, reports, and discussions requiring precision.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations for 「次第に」. It is standard Japanese.
🔍 Subtle Differences
「次第に (shídai ni)」 vs. 「だんだん (dandan)」
「次第に」 implies a smoother, often less conscious or more natural progression, with an emphasis on the process itself. 「だんだん」 is more common in daily conversation, suggesting a more observable or conscious progression, often with a sense of accumulated change. 「だんだん」 can also imply a “step-by-step” or “stage-by-stage” change.
When to use: Use 「次第に」 for formal or descriptive contexts, or when the change is very subtle and continuous. Use 「だんだん」 for everyday conversations, especially when the change is more noticeable or has distinct stages.
「次第に (shídai ni)」 vs. 「徐々に (jojoya ni)」
Both are very similar and often interchangeable, expressing gradual change. 「次第に」 might imply a slightly more organic or natural progression. 「徐々に」 can sometimes suggest a slightly more controlled, deliberate, or planned slow change, though the distinction is very subtle and often depends on context.
When to use: Both are suitable for formal and written contexts. 「徐々に」 is often preferred when the change is slow but perhaps a result of careful, incremental steps.
「次第に (shídai ni)」 vs. 「少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu)」
「少しずつ」 means “little by little” or “bit by bit,” focusing on the small quantities or amounts of change. 「次第に」 emphasizes the continuous, smooth progression over time. While related, 「少しずつ」 points to the *size* of the increments, whereas 「次第に」 points to the *nature* of the progression.
When to use: Use 「少しずつ」 when emphasizing the small steps or amounts. Use 「次第に」 when emphasizing the continuous, smooth unfolding of the change.
📝 Conjugation Notes
「次第に」 is an adverb, so it does not conjugate. It modifies verbs and adjectives, typically appearing directly before them.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
「次第に」 is pronounced しだいに (shídai ni). The accent is flat (平板型 – heiban-gata). Pay attention to the “shi” and “da” sounds, ensuring clear articulation.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of the kanji 次 (tsugi), meaning “next” or “order.” This can help you remember that 「次第に」 implies changes happening in a sequence or order, little by little, moving to the “next stage.”
Vocabulary List
回復
kaifuku
recovery, restoration
兆し
kizashi
sign, omen, indication
練習
renshuu
practice, training
重ねる
kasaneru
to pile up, to repeat
自信
jishin
confidence, self-confidence
夕焼け
yuuyake
sunset glow, evening sky
広がる
to spread, to extend
Kanji List
次
shi, tsugi
next, order, sequence
第
dai
order, number, grade
回
kai, mawaru
turn, revolve, times, recovery (as in 回復)
復
fuku
return, restore (as in 回復)
兆
chou, kizashi
trillion, sign, omen (as in 兆し)
練
ren
practice, refine (as in 練習)
習
shuu, narau
learn, custom (as in 練習)
重
ju, chou, omoi, kasaneru
heavy, repeat (as in 重ねる)
自
ji
self (as in 自信)
信
shin
trust, believe (as in 自信)
夕
yuu
evening (as in 夕焼け)
Practice Exercises
季節が移り、山の木々も（ ）紅葉し始めた。
だんだん
次第に
どんどん
急に
長時間の会議で、参加者の顔色が（ ）疲れてきた。
急に
すぐに
次第に
いつも
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