1.
gradually; little by little; step by step
Happening slowly over time; progressing in small increments.
次第に慣れてきた。
I gradually got used to it.
空が次第に暗くなった。
The sky gradually darkened.
次第に状況が改善した。
The situation gradually improved.
次第に means "gradually" or "progressively," describing change that occurs slowly over time.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- だんだん: gradually (casual, everyday)
- 徐々に: gradually (formal, written)
- 少しずつ: little by little (emphasis on small increments)
- 段階的に: step by step, in stages
NUANCE DIFFERENCES:
- 次第に: neutral to formal; emphasizes continuous progression
- だんだん: casual; most common in spoken Japanese
- 徐々に: formal/literary; often in written contexts
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 次第に慣れる: to gradually get used to
- 次第に増える: to gradually increase
- 次第に変わる: to gradually change
- 次第に分かってくる: to gradually come to understand
REGISTER:
More formal than だんだん, appropriate for both spoken and written Japanese.