漸ぜん次じ

ぜ

ん

じ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

gradually; little by little; incrementally

Formal written word for gradual, step-by-step change. Often used adverbially with verbs such as 改善する, 拡大する, 増加する, or as a stiff の-adjective in phrases like 漸次の移行.

状じょう況きょうは漸ぜん次じ改かい善ぜんしている。
The situation is gradually improving.
新しん制せい度どへの漸ぜん次じの移い行こうが始はじまった。
The gradual transition to the new system has begun.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が漸ぜん次じ〈動どう詞し〉するfor something to gradually change (improve, increase, etc.)
経けい済ざい状じょう況きょうは漸ぜん次じ改かい善ぜんしている。
The economic situation is gradually improving.
漸ぜん次じの〈事こと〉a gradual (transition, change, etc.)
新しん制せい度どへの漸ぜん次じの移い行こうが決きまった。
A gradual transition to the new system was decided upon.

Kanji

漸steadily, gradually advancing, finally
次next, order, sequence
時time, hour

Related words

徐じょ々じょにN3
徐々に is the common everyday word for gradually, while 漸次 is a stiffer, more formal written equivalent.
次し第だいにN2
次第に is a broader, conversational word for gradually or as time goes on, whereas 漸次 is limited to formal or written contexts.
少すこしずつ
少しずつ is a plain, everyday phrase for little by little, while 漸次 carries an official or literary tone.

Opposites

急きゅうにN4
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of 漸次's slow, incremental change.

Word family

漸ぜん次じ的てき
gradual; slow

Written forms

漸ぜん次じUsage99%
Standard written form; used mostly in formal or written Japanese.
ぜんじUsage1%
漸ぜん時じ
irregular kanji usage
Attested irregular kanji spelling; 漸次 is the normal form.

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound conventionally written with 漸, associated with gradualness, and 次, associated with order or sequence; together they express change proceeding step by step.