与日俱增

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yǔ rì jù zēng
• English Translation: To grow with each passing day (increasing steadily)
• Idiom Composition: 「与」（With or along with）＋「日」（Day or time）＋「俱」（Together or simultaneously）＋「增」（To increase or grow）
• Meaning: A state where something, typically an abstract quality or emotion, continuously increases or intensifies as time passes.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「与日俱增」 contains the following nuances:

• Abstract Objects: This idiom is typically applied to abstract concepts like emotions, pressure, influence, or knowledge, rather than the physical count of concrete objects.
• Continuous Process: The focus is on a steady, cumulative process of growth over time rather than a sudden or instantaneous spike.
• Neutral Nuance: It is a neutral term that can be used for positive developments (like growing wisdom) or negative ones (like rising debt).

3. Usage

「与日俱增」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Deepening emotions and relationships: A classic way to express that feelings like love, friendship, or nostalgia are becoming stronger over time.
  • Example:「虽然我们分开了，但我对她的思念却与日俱增。」
    （Although we are apart, my longing for her grows with each passing day.）
• Increasing pressure or burden: Used to describe situations where work pressure, living costs, or social tensions are gradually mounting.
  • Example:「随着考试临近，考生的压力与日俱增。」
    （As the exam approaches, the pressure on the students is mounting day by day.）
• Growth of influence or ability: Used to objectively state that a country's power, a company's influence, or an individual's skills are steadily expanding.
  • Example:「这家公司在国际市场上的影响力与日俱增。」
    （This company's influence in the international market is steadily increasing.）

Additional Examples:

1. 随着科技的发展，人们对环境保护的意识与日俱增。
   （With the development of technology, people's awareness of environmental protection is increasing day by day.）
2. 两国的贸易摩擦与日俱增，引起了各界的关注。
   （Trade friction between the two countries is intensifying daily, drawing attention from all sectors.）
3. 他对这份工作的热情并没有消退，反而与日俱增。
   （His passion for this job has not faded; on the contrary, it has grown stronger over time.）
4. 随着年龄的增长，爷爷的健忘症与日俱增。
   （As he gets older, my grandfather's forgetfulness is becoming more severe every day.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase can be traced back to the works of the Song Dynasty scholar Lü Zuqian (吕祖谦) in the Lü Donglai Ji (吕东莱集), and it also appears in historical texts like the Draft History of Qing (清史稿).
• Historically, it was often used in serious contexts, such as describing the worsening of a medical condition or the accumulation of grave concerns.
• In modern usage, it is primarily a written-style expression (书面语) but is frequently heard in news broadcasts, formal speeches, and professional settings.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 有增无减 (yǒu zēng wú jiǎn): Only increasing and never decreasing; used when a trend shows no sign of slowing down.
  • 日积月累 (rì jī yuè lěi): To accumulate over a long period through daily and monthly effort or experience.link
  • 此起彼伏 (cǐ qǐ bǐ fú): To rise and fall in succession.link
  • 愈演愈烈 (yù yǎn yù liè): To become more and more intense or severe.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 每况愈下 (měi kuàng yù xià): To go from bad to worse; a steady deterioration of a situation.
  • 日渐式微 (rì jiàn shì wēi): To decline or fade away day by day; often used for the waning of influence or traditions.
  • 江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià): Things are getting worse day by day.link
  • 销声匿迹 (xiāo shēng nì jì): To disappear without a trace, to vanish from public view.link

6. Summary

与日俱增 (yǔ rì jù zēng) is used to describe the steady, relentless growth of things like emotions, influence, or pressure. It is a formal and sophisticated alternative to the common 越来越 (yuè lái yuè) structure, suitable for both positive contexts (like deepening trust) and negative ones (like rising anxiety).