Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘As… (then)…’, ‘Along with…’, ‘In proportion to…’
🎯 Primary Function
To express that as one change occurs, another change happens simultaneously and proportionally in the same direction.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Dictionary form) + につれて | Noun (Action/Process) + につれて
い-adjective (dictionary form) + の + につれて (Less common, usually converted to くなる)
な-adjective + になる + につれて
Typically used with affirmative verbs expressing change. Not commonly used with negative forms.
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in news reports, business presentations, and academic essays to show correlation.
Informal Situations
Used in daily conversation when discussing growth, health, or observable trends.
Written Language
Very common in newspapers and non-fiction books.
Spoken Language
Common in serious discussions or when explaining cause-and-effect relationships over time.
💡 Common Applications
Biological/Personal Growth
Used to describe changes that happen naturally as a person ages or matures.
Example: 年を取るにつれて (As one grows older…)
Economic/Social Changes
Used to describe macro-level changes where one trend follows another.
Example: 景気が回復するにつれて (As the economy recovers…)
Environmental/Situational Progress
Used for physical or environmental changes that develop over time.
Example: 台風が近づくにつれて (As the typhoon approaches…)
Frequency
High in formal writing, moderate in daily speech.
Difficulty
JLPT N3 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
台風が近づくにつれて、風が強くなってきた。
Furigana: たいふうがちかづくにつれて、かぜがつよくなってきた。
Romaji: Taifuu ga chikazuku ni tsurete, kaze ga tsuyoku natte kita.
English: As the typhoon approaches, the wind has become stronger.
Example #2
年を取るにつれて、物忘れがひどくなった。
Furigana: としをとるにつれて、ものわすれがひどくなった。
Romaji: Toshi o toru ni tsurete, monowasure ga hidoku natta.
English: As I get older, I have become more forgetful.
Example #3
日本語が上手になるにつれて、日本での生活が楽しくなりました。
Furigana: にほんごがじょうずになるにつれて、にほんでのせいかつがたのしくなりました。
Romaji: Nihongo ga jouzu ni naru ni tsurete, Nihon de no seikatsu ga tanoshiku narimashita.
English: As my Japanese improves, life in Japan has become more enjoyable.
Example #4
町が発展するにつれて、自然が失われていった。
Furigana: まちがはってんするにつれて、しぜんがうしなわれていった。
Romaji: Machi ga hatten suru ni tsurete, shizen ga ushinawarete itta.
English: As the town developed, nature was gradually lost.
Example #5
試験の日が近づくにつれて、不安になってきた。
Furigana: しけんのひがちかづくにつれて、ふあんになってきた。
Romaji: Shiken no hi ga chikazuku ni tsurete, fuan ni natte kita.
English: As the exam day approaches, I have started to feel anxious.
Example #6
景気が回復するにつれて、求人が増えている。
Furigana: けいきがかいふくするにつれて、きゅうじんがふえている。
Romaji: Keiki ga kaifuku suru ni tsurete, kyuujin ga fuete iru.
English: As the economy recovers, the number of job openings is increasing.
Example #7
読者が増えるにつれて、責任の重さを感じるようになった。
Furigana: どくしゃがふえるにつれて、せきにんのおもさをかんじるようになった。
Romaji: Dokusha ga fueru ni tsurete, sekinin no omosa o kanjiru you ni natta.
English: As the number of readers increases, I have started to feel the weight of responsibility.
Example #8
寒くなるにつれて、お鍋が恋しくなります。
Furigana: さむくなるにつれて、おなべがこいしくなります。
Romaji: Samuku naru ni tsurete, onabe ga koishiku narimasu.
English: As it gets colder, I start to crave hot pot.
Example #9
練習を重ねるにつれて、技術が向上した。
Furigana: れんしゅうをかさねるにつれて、ぎじゅつがこうじょうした。
Romaji: Renshuu o kasaneru ni tsurete, gijutsu ga koujou shita.
English: As I accumulated more practice, my skills improved.
Example #10
気温が上がるにつれて、冷たい飲み物が売れる。
Furigana: きおんがあがるにつれて、つめたいのみものがうれる。
Romaji: Kion ga agaru ni tsurete, tsumetai nomimono ga ureru.
English: As the temperature rises, cold drinks sell better.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Unidirectional Change
One-way change: The change usually follows a single direction (e.g., getting more, getting less).
Example: 町の開発が進むにつれて (As the development of the town progresses)
Gradual Process
The grammar implies a gradual, step-by-step transformation.
Example: It cannot be used for a single, sudden event. It must be a gradual process.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 時間につれて
✅ 時間がたつにつれて (As time passes…)
‘Time’ (時間) itself is a static noun; it needs a verb like ‘passes’ to show a process.
❌ 練習するにつれて上手になる (Correct, but less emphasis on effort than ～ば～ほど)
✅ 練習すればするほど上手になる (The more you practice, the better you get.)
につれて is for gradual, natural correlations. If you want to emphasize ‘the more X, the more Y’ specifically for intentional effort, ‘～ば～ほど’ is often preferred.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral/Polite. Suitable for all audiences.
Social Situations: Ideal for describing trends or long-term observations to colleagues or elders.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese used nationwide.
🔍 Subtle Differences
につれて vs. にしたがって (ni shitagatte)
にしたがって is more formal and can be used for following rules or orders, whereas につれて is strictly for natural, proportional changes.
When to use: Use にしたがって for formal reports; use につれて for natural progression.
につれて vs. とともに (to tomo ni)
とともに can mean ‘at the same time as’ (instantaneous), while につれて emphasizes the gradual process.
When to use: Use とともに when two things happen simultaneously but not necessarily proportionally.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The noun or verb used before につれて must imply a change or a process (e.g., development, growth, movement). Static nouns cannot be used.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Emphasis is naturally placed on the verb or noun before ‘ni tsurete’ to highlight what is changing.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘連’ (tsure) as in ‘tsureru’ (to take someone along). As the first thing moves, it ‘takes’ the second change along with it!
Other Grammar
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