越跑越累
the more…, the more…
Structure
越 A ，越 B · 主语 + 越 + 动词 + 越 + 形容词
What it means
越 A 越 B means “the more A, the more B”: as A grows, B grows with it.
How it is built
Subject + 越 + verb + 越 + adjective: 我越跑越累 (the more I run, the more tired I get). With two subjects: 天气越冷，我越不想起床 (the colder it is, the less I want to get up).
When to use it
Use it when one change drives another: 这本书我越看越喜欢. With one subject, put it before the first 越; with two, each part has its own subject. 越来越 “more and more” (h2-6) is the same pattern, with time as A.
Watch out
Don’t put 很 after 越: ✗ 越跑越很累 ✓ 越跑越累. The subject comes before 越: ✗ 越他跑越快 ✓ 他越跑越快.
Examples
他越跑越快。
He ran faster and faster.
这本书我越看越喜欢。
The more I read this book, the more I like it.
天气越冷，我越不想起床。
The colder it is, the less I want to get up.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 9: 锻炼身体 (Getting fit)
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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