How things develop, last, speed up or are put off — and the words for periods and eras.
Practise this list
From these 41 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
These words describe how things change over time rather than when they happen. Several are written-style and common in news and reports: 随着“along with”逐渐“gradually”目前“at present” Watch 不断, which means “again and again, without let-up”, and 世纪, which counts as English does: the twenty-first century is 二十一世纪.
The words
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Verb (8)
转变to change; to transform; a changeVerb4
当了父亲以后，他对工作的态度转变了很多。Since he became a father, his attitude to work has changed a great deal.
A change of direction or attitude; 变化 is any change at all.
成为to becomeVerb4
她从小就想成为一名医生。Since she was little, she has wanted to become a doctor.
Takes a noun, never an adjective; 为 has the second tone here.
持续to continue; to lastVerb4
这场雨持续了整整一个星期。The rain went on for a whole week.
延长to extend; to prolongVerb4
因为游客多，博物馆延长了开放时间。Because there are so many visitors, the museum has extended its opening hours.
缩短to shortenVerb4
新的高铁把路上的时间缩短了一半。The new high-speed line has cut the journey time in half.
中断to break off; to be interruptedVerb4
因为生病，他的学习中断了半年。Because of illness, his studies were interrupted for half a year.
延期to postpone; to extend (a deadline)Verb4
签证快到期了，我得去申请延期。My visa is about to expire, so I have to apply for an extension.
Both “put off” and “extend”: either way the date moves later.
拖延to delay; to put offVerb4
有病要早点儿看，不能拖延。If you’re ill you should see a doctor early, not put it off.
Noun (15)
变化change; to changeNoun3
这十年我的家乡变化很大。My home town has changed a lot in the last ten years.
趋势trend; tendencyNoun4
年轻人晚结婚已经成了一种趋势。Young people marrying later has become a trend.
阶段stage; phaseNoun4
这个项目现在还在第一阶段。This project is still in its first stage.
时期period (of time)Noun4
那是我一生中最困难的时期。That was the hardest period of my life.
当代contemporary; present-dayNoun4
这个展览介绍的是当代艺术。This exhibition is about contemporary art.
世纪centuryNoun4
这座桥是上个世纪修的。This bridge was built last century.
期间during; periodNoun4
放假期间图书馆不开门。The library is closed during the holidays.
周年anniversaryNoun4
明天是我们结婚十周年。Tomorrow is our tenth wedding anniversary.
当前current; at presentNoun4
当前最重要的是把身体养好。What matters most right now is getting your health back.
早期early stage; early periodNoun4
这种病如果早期发现，是可以治好的。If this illness is caught early, it can be cured.
初期initial stage; early daysNoun4
公司成立初期，只有五个员工。In its early days the company had only five employees.
时刻moment; at every momentNoun4
那是我这辈子最幸福的时刻。That was the happiest moment of my life.
As an adverb it means “constantly, at all times”.
片刻a moment; an instantNoun4
请稍等片刻，经理马上就来。Please wait a moment; the manager will be right with you.
Formal and polite; in speech 一会儿.
最初at first; initialNoun4
最初我只想在这里住一年，没想到一住就是十年。At first I only meant to live here for a year; I never expected to stay ten.
后期later stage; final phaseNoun4
这个工程到了后期，进度明显快了。In its later stages the project noticeably sped up.
Adjective (3)
长期long-term; over a long periodAdjective4
长期熬夜对身体很不好。Staying up late over a long period is very bad for your health.
短期short-termAdjective4
我在北京上过一个短期汉语班。I took a short Chinese course in Beijing.
过时out of date; old-fashionedAdjective4
这种手机早就过时了。This kind of phone went out of date long ago.
Adverb (9)
逐渐graduallyAdverb4
天逐渐黑了，路上的人也少了。It was gradually getting dark, and there were fewer people on the streets.
不断continuously; again and againAdverb4
我们的生活水平在不断提高。Our standard of living keeps rising.
至今to this day; up to nowAdverb4
那次旅行我至今还记得。I still remember that trip to this day.
从此from then onAdverb4
他去了国外，从此我们就没再见过面。He went abroad, and from then on we never saw each other again.
渐渐gradually; little by littleAdverb3
来中国半年后，我渐渐习惯了这里的生活。Half a year after coming to China, I gradually got used to life here.
The spoken word; 逐渐 is more written.
一时for the moment; temporarilyAdverb4
他的名字我一时想不起来了。For the moment I can’t recall his name.
一度at one time; for a whileAdverb4
这首歌一度非常流行。This song was very popular at one time.
最终in the end; finalAdverb4
经过多次讨论，我们最终选了第二个方案。After many discussions, we finally chose the second option.
起初at first; originallyAdverb4
起初他不同意，后来才慢慢接受了。At first he didn’t agree, and only gradually came to accept it.
Narrative and written; in speech 一开始.
Preposition (1)
随着along with; asPreposition4
随着年龄的增长，他越来越喜欢安静。As he gets older, he likes peace and quiet more and more.
Time word (5)
如今nowadays; these daysTime word4
以前这里是一片农田，如今到处都是高楼。This used to be farmland; nowadays there are tall buildings everywhere.
近来recently; latelyTime word4
近来天气变化大，感冒的人很多。The weather has been very changeable lately, and lots of people have colds.
More written than 最近, and only about the past.
往年previous years; in former yearsTime word4
今年夏天比往年热得多。This summer is much hotter than in previous years.
近年recent yearsTime word4
近年来这里的游客越来越多。In recent years more and more tourists have come here.
日后in the future; later onTime word4
这些资料请保存好，日后可能用得着。Please keep these documents safe; they may come in useful later.
