循序渐进xún xù jiàn jìnin sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementally

1. 1.

   in sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementallyidiom

Figurative meaning

In sequence, step by step; to make steady progress incrementally.

• 循to follow
• 序sequence
• 渐gradual; gradually
• 进to advance

No attested origin story

循序渐进 often modifies nouns like 方法 or 学习 with 的, and can also stand as a predicate when recommending an orderly pace.

1. HSK 3

   学中文要循序渐进，不要一下子学太多。

   Xué Zhōngwén yào xún xù jiàn jìn, bú yào yíxiàzi xué tài duō.

   Learning Chinese should be done step by step; don't study too much all at once.

2. HSK 3

   老师说，练钢琴也得循序渐进。

   Lǎoshī shuō, liàn gāngqín yě děi xún xù jiàn jìn.

   The teacher said practicing piano also has to make steady progress incrementally.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我想一个月就看完这本书。

   Wǒ xiǎng yí ge yuè jiù kàn wán zhè běn shū.

   I want to finish this book in one month.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   太快了，还是循序渐进吧。

   Tài kuài le, háishì xún xù jiàn jìn ba.

   That's too fast; better go step by step.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那我每天看十页。

   Nà wǒ měi tiān kàn shí yè.

   Then I'll read ten pages a day.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   这样才稳。

   Zhèyàng cái wěn.

   That way it's steady.

1. 1.What does 循序渐进 mean?

   AIn sequence, step by step; to make steady progress incrementallyBTo spare no pains or effortCIt goes without saying
2. 2.Which sentence uses 循序渐进 correctly?

   A学游泳要循序渐进，先学漂浮。B今天天气很循序渐进。C他把杯子循序渐进地打碎了。
3. 3.Which idiom fits best? 记生词最好____，一天记几个。 (The best way to memorize new words is step by step: a few each day.)

   A循序渐进B不遗余力C不言而喻

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Related idioms

• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9
• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9
• 不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittinglyHSK 7–9
• 不知所措bù zhī suǒ cuònot knowing what to doHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.