Fixed Pattern “越 A 越 B”

In Chinese the pattern “越A越B” (yuè A yuè B) shows that as one state or action changes, another changes with it.

In this pattern:

A and B can both be verb phrases; A and B can both be adjective phrases; or one can be a verb phrase and the other an adjective phrase.

Core meaning:

As A changes, B changes too.

Basic Structure

越 + A + 越 + B

The more A, the more B

As A goes on, B grows …

今天的足球比赛我越看越着急

Structure

越看 + 越着急 the longer I watch + the more anxious I get 今天的足球比赛 — today's football match 越看 — the more I watch 越着急 — the more anxious I get

Here A is the verb 看, and B names a state: 着急.

妈妈越说，他越不高兴

Structure

妈妈 + 越说，他 + 越不高兴妈妈越说 — the more his mother talks 他越不高兴 — the more upset he gets

Here A is the verb phrase 说, and B is an adjectival state: 不高兴.

我想认识中国朋友，越多越好

Structure

越多 + 越好 the more + the better 我想认识中国朋友 — I want to make Chinese friends 越多 — the more 越好 — the better

Here both A and B are adjectives: 多 and 好.

越 + A + 越 + B

Meaning: as A changes, B changes to match.

Examples:

越看越着急yuè kàn yuè zháojíthe more I watch, the more anxious I get

越说越不高兴yuè shuō yuè bù gāoxìngthe more said, the more upset

越多越好yuè duō yuè hǎothe more the better