In this HSK 3 video lesson we'll learn how to say more and more in Chinese or less and less in Chinese with the structure 越来越, and how to say "given/admitting the fact that..., however..." in Chinese with a type of 是字句(Shìzìjù ▸ The 是 Sentence).

越来越
是字句(II) A 是 A，但(是)/可(是)……. See also (I) and (III).

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GRAMMAR

Grammar 1. 越来越

yuè lái yuè ▸ more and more; less and less

We can use this structure to say more and more in Chinese or less and less in Chinese. Depending on the context, what is stated by the predicates is becoming higher in degree or lower in degree.

The 谓语 (Wèiyǔ ▸ Predicate) following 越来越 can be

an adjective phrase, or
a verb phrase

(1) 越来越 + adj. PREDICATE

Wǒ yuè lái yuè shòu le.
我越来越瘦了。
I (am) skinnier and skinner.
Wǒ de shēnghuó yuè lái yuè máng, yě yuè lái yuè lèi le.
我的生活越来越忙，也越来越累了。
My life (is) busier and busier, also (is) more and more tiring.
Tán le liàn’ài yǐhòu, Xiǎo Bái yuè lái yuè piàoliang le.
谈了恋爱以后，小白越来越漂亮了。
(In the) time (that is) after (having) been in a romantic relationship, Little Bai (is) prettier and prettier.

(2) 越来越 + v. PREDICATE

Wǒ yuè lái yuè ’ài nǐ le.
我越来越爱你了。
I love you more and more.
Qù le Zhōngguó jǐ cì yǐhòu, Mǎ Wén duì xué Pǔtōnghuà yuè lái yuè gǎn xìngqù le.
去了中国几次以后，马文对学普通话越来越感兴趣了
(In the) time (that is) after going to China (for) a few times, Ma Wen (has become) more and more interested in learning Mandarin Chinese.
Wǒ shì Běijīng rén, liǎng nián qián yīnwèi gōngzuò lái le Shànghǎi, xiànzài zài Shànghǎi zhù de yuè lái yuè xíguàn le.
我是北京人，两年前因为工作来了上海，现在在上海住得越来越习惯了。
I am (a) Beijinger, two years ago (I) came to Shanghai because of work, now (I) more and more am used to living in Shanghai.

☑ Compare 越来越 (more and more; less and less) with 更(gèng, adv. ▸ more) and 比(bǐ, prep. ▸ comparing with).

Grammar 2. A是A，但(是)/可(是)……

A shì A, dàn(shì)/kě(shì)... ▸ given/admitting the fact that A, but/however...

This structure can be considered as a type of 是字句 (Shìzìjù ▸ The 是 Sentence), which indicates 让步 (ràngbù ▸ concession).

☑ 是字句 refers to Sentences where 是 is used as the Verb Predicate. There are many different types of 是字句. We have learned 是字句 that indicates "equation" and "classification" before.

In this structure, 但是, 但, 可是, 可, the four of them are interchangeable. For example, these four sentences have the same meaning.

Zhù zài zhèr fāngbiàn shì fāngbiàn, dànshì tài guì le.
住在这儿方便是方便，但是太贵了。
Zhù zài zhèr fāngbiàn shì fāngbiàn, dàn tài guì le.
住在这儿方便是方便，但太贵了。
Zhù zài zhèr fāngbiàn shì fāngbiàn, kěshì tài guì le.
住在这儿方便是方便，可是太贵了。
Zhù zài zhèr fāngbiàn shì fāngbiàn, kě tài guì le.
住在这儿方便是方便，可太贵了。

TRANSLATION: (Admitting the face that) living here is convenient, but (it is) too expensive.

Also in this structure, A is usually an adj. phrase, but some v. phrase can also be used in here.

(1) adj. (phrase) 是 adj. (phrase)，但(是)/可(是)……

Nà ge dìfang hǎowánr shì hǎowánr, kě(shì) tài yuǎn le.
那个地方好玩儿是好玩儿，可(是)太远了。
(Admitting the face that) that place is fun, but (it is) too far away.
Tā zhǎng de gāo shì gāo, kě tā bù xǐhuan dǎ lánqiú.
他长得高是高，可他不喜欢打篮球。
(Admitting the fact that) he grows tall, but he doesn’t like playing basketball.

(2) v. (phrase) 是 v. (phrase)，但(是)/可(是)……

Nà jiàn shìqing, wǒ zhīdào shì zhīdào, dàn(shì) wǒ méiyǒu gàosu guo biérén.
那件事情，我知道是知道，但(是)我没有告诉过别人。
That “jian” thing, (- admitting the fact that) I (did) know (about it), but I have not told other people (ever).
Wǒ zhù zài zhèlǐ, xíguàn shì xíguàn, kě(shì) wǒ yě hěn xiǎng jiā.
我住在这里，习惯是习惯，可(是)我也很想家。
Me living here, (admitting the fact that I) am used to (it), but I also quite miss (my) home.