呈…状 / 呈…趋势
to take the form of; to show (a shape or a trend)
Structure
主语 呈 形状／方向 状／趋势
What it means
'Takes the form of; shows': written Chinese for describing a shape, colour or trend. 呈 (chéng) means 'shows, presents'.
How it is built
Subject + 呈 + shape or direction + 状／形／色／趋势: 人数呈上升趋势 (numbers are on the rise). Others: 呈阶梯状, 呈扇形, 呈红色.
When to use it
Geography, science and data reports. In speech: 像…一样 for shapes, 越来越… for trends (来的人越来越多).
Watch out
Don't write its homophone 成: ✗成上升趋势。 ✓呈上升趋势。 Keep the whole frame, 呈 + description + 状／形／色／趋势, and avoid it in chat, where it sounds stiff.
Examples
中国地势西高东低，呈阶梯状分布。
China’s terrain is high in the west and low in the east, laid out in steps.
近几年，来这里旅游的人数呈上升趋势。
In recent years visitor numbers here have been on the rise.
Learn this in Lesson 9 · HSK 5: 山河与名胜 (Mountains, rivers and landmarks)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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