段々(だんだん)と

だんだんと
adverb
gradually; little by little
time-general
1. gradually; little by little; step by step
Indicates a gradual change or progression over time. Often used with verbs describing change of state.
段々(だんだん)と暖(あたた)かくなってきた。
It has gradually gotten warmer.
日本語(にほんご)が段々(だんだん)と上手(じょうず)になっている。
Your Japanese is getting better little by little.
空(そら)が段々(だんだん)と暗(くら)くなって、やがて雨(あめ)が降(ふ)り始(はじ)めた。
The sky gradually grew darker, and before long it started to rain.

段々(だんだん)と expresses gradual change over time. The particle と is often omitted in casual speech, giving 段々(だんだん) alone.

Common patterns

  • 段々(だんだん)（と）〜てくる: to gradually come to ~ (approaching the present)
  • 段々(だんだん)（と）〜ていく: to gradually go on to ~ (moving away from the present)
  • 段々(だんだん)（と）〜なる: to gradually become ~

段々(だんだん)と分(わ)かってきた (I gradually came to understand).

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 徐々(じょじょ)に (gradually)
Compare: 次第(しだい)に (gradually)
Compare: 少(すこ)しずつ (little by little)
general
Added 2026.3.24 18:31 · Revised 2026.10.6 21:38
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