次第に
🃏 Flashcard
次第に
shidai ni
Tap to reveal usage
gradually; in sequence; in order
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
shidai ni
Post ID
51133
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
gradually; in sequence; in order
📖 How to use it
Expresses gradual change over time, meaning 'gradually' or 'little by little'.
Attaches to
Used as an adverb; attaches directly before a verb or adjective, or at the beginning of a clause.
次第に is a formal adverb that describes a process happening slowly over time. It is often used in written language, news reports, or formal speeches. In everyday conversation, you might hear it, but it sounds a bit stiff; casual alternatives like だんだん or 少しずつ are more common in speech.
When used with verbs, it indicates that an action or state progresses gradually. For example, 次第に良くなる (gradually gets better). It can also modify adjectives, as in 次第に寒くなる (gradually gets colder).
Note that 次第に is different from 次第で, which means 'depending on'. Don't confuse them.
彼の病気は次第に良くなっている。
Kare no byouki wa shidai ni yoku natte iru.
His illness is gradually getting better.
秋になると、日が次第に短くなる。
Aki ni naru to, hi ga shidai ni mijikaku naru.
When autumn comes, the days gradually get shorter.
新しい環境にも次第に慣れてきた。
Atarashii kankyou ni mo shidai ni narete kita.
I've gradually gotten used to the new environment.
Not だんだん
だんだん is more casual and used in conversation; 次第に is more formal and often found in writing or formal speech.
Register
Formal, often used in written language, news, and formal presentations; less common in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
次第に
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 次第に three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using 次第に. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 次第に mean?
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Gradually; in sequence; in order
What JLPT level is 次第に?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 次第に in a sentence?
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Attach 次第に (shidai ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is 次第に formal or casual Japanese?
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次第に is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember 次第に long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.