4 · Expressions (level 4)
Along with change: suízhe
one development following another
Suízhe ties one change to another: as the first develops, the second follows.
随着 opens a sentence with a change, and the rest of the sentence describes a second change that follows from it: 随着年龄的增长，他越来越喜欢安静了, “as he got older, he came to like quiet more and more”. The word is built from 随, to follow, and 着: the second change follows the first along.
What comes after 随着 is almost always a development, and it usually takes the form X + 的 + a noun of change: 经济的发展, 水平的提高, 人口的增加, 时间的推移. A short clause that describes a change works too: 随着天气变冷.
The second half describes the change that follows, and so it typically carries a word of change: 越来越, 不断, 慢慢, 也, or a 了 at the end. A static statement after 随着 sounds odd, because there is nothing to follow along.
English speakers tend to say “with time” at the end of a sentence; Chinese puts the 随着 phrase first. The other trap is using it for two actions at the same moment (“as I walked, I sang”): that is 一边…一边 or …的时候. 随着 links developments, not actions. It belongs to careful speech and writing.
The form
| the basic frame | 随着…的发展，… |
| as time goes by | 随着时间的推移，… |
| the second change | …，人们的生活越来越方便。 |
| after the subject | 城市随着人口的增加不断扩大。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
The suízhe phrase names a change and opens the sentence.
随着天气变冷，感冒的人越来越多。As the weather turns cold, more and more people catch colds.
The noun after suízhe is usually built with de and a word of change such as fāzhǎn, tígāo or zēngjiā.
随着收入的提高，他们的生活越来越好了。As their income rose, their life got better and better.
The second half describes a change too, often with yuèláiyuè, búduàn, mànmàn or le.
随着年龄的增长，他的脾气慢慢变好了。As he got older, his temper gradually improved.
For two actions at the same time, use yìbiān … yìbiān, not suízhe.
她一边做饭一边听音乐。She listens to music while she cooks.
A closer look
Why it wants a noun of change
随着 means “following along with”, and you can only follow something that moves. A plain noun such as 时间 or 年龄 stands still, so Chinese turns it into a movement by adding a noun of change: 时间的推移, 年龄的增长.
These pairs are fixed and worth learning as wholes: 年龄 goes with 增长, 水平 with 提高, 人口 with 增加, 经济 with 发展, 技术 with 进步. Swapping them (a population that “improves”) sounds as odd as it does in English.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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suízhe is followed by something you move along with — music, a rhythm, a crowd
it means “to” or “along with”, and no noun of change is needed.
孩子们随着音乐拍手。The children clapped along to the music.
This is the older, literal sense of following; the pattern of developments grew out of it.
How to spot it
- 随着
- 随着…的发展
- 越来越
- 不断
Example sentences
随着手机的普及，写信的人越来越少了。As mobile phones have spread, fewer and fewer people write letters.
随着时间的推移，我慢慢习惯了这里的生活。As time went by, I gradually got used to life here.
随着城市的发展，交通问题也越来越严重。As the city develops, the traffic problems are getting more serious too.
随着春天的到来，公园里的花都开了。With the arrival of spring, the flowers in the park have all come out.
孩子的兴趣随着年龄的增长不断变化。A child’s interests keep changing as the child grows older.
随着网上购物越来越普遍，路边的小店少了很多。As online shopping becomes more common, there are far fewer small shops along the streets.
8 more example sentences
随着生活水平的提高，人们越来越重视健康。As living standards rise, people pay more and more attention to their health.
随着比赛的进行，观众越来越激动。As the match went on, the spectators grew more and more excited.
她的看法随着经历的增加发生了变化。Her views changed as her experience grew.
随着天越来越黑，路上的车也少了。As it got darker, there were fewer cars on the road.
随着技术的进步，很多工作都可以在家里做了。As technology advances, a lot of work can now be done from home.
随着考试越来越近，他也越来越紧张。As the exam drew closer, he grew more and more nervous.
菜价随着季节的变化上下波动。Vegetable prices go up and down with the seasons.
随着来这里旅游的人越来越多，小镇上开了很多新饭馆。As more and more tourists come here, many new restaurants have opened in the little town.
Worth knowing (1)
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Two changes, one sentence
Because both halves describe a change, 随着 and 越来越 are natural partners, often with 也 between them. The pattern can be learned as one shape: 随着 A changes, B 也越来越 changes.
随着年纪变大，他也越来越爱说话了。As he got older, he also became more and more talkative.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English adds “with time” at the end. Chinese puts the 随着 phrase first — and it wants a change after it: not just 时间 but 时间的推移, the passing of time.
Suízhe goes first and names a change; the rest of the sentence names the change that follows.
Your turn
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