► 副詞
段々 [だんだん] [coll] meaning: gradual rank: 1
☆ 彼の腕は段々上達している ⇨ His skills are gradually improving
☆ 秋になって段々寒くなってきた ⇨ Now it is fall and it is getting cooler
徐々に [(1)じょじょに] [liter] meaning: gradual rank: 2
☆ 景気は徐々に回復している ⇨ The economy is recovering gradually
じわじわ [(1)じわじわ] meaning: gradual rank: 2
☆ ボディブローがじわじわ効いてきている ⇨ Body blows are slowly taking their tolls (☛ Inconspicuously but surely)
☆ 彼等は首位との差をじわじわ縮めて来ている ⇨ They are slowly but steadily closing the gap with the top team (☛ Inconspicuously but surely)
少しずつ [(4)すこしずつ] meaning: gradual rank: 2
☆ 毎日練習していたら少しずつ上達してきた ⇨ I’ve been practicing everyday and I’m getting better little by little
少しずつ [(4)すこしづつ] meaning: gradual rank: 2
☆ 状況は少しずつ改善した ⇨ The situation improved little by little
次第に [しだいに] [liter] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ その習慣は次第に廃れていった ⇨ The custom became gradually outdated
じりじり [(1)じりじり] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ 二位のチームは首位との差をじりじりと縮めている ⇨ The second-place team is inching closer to the top (☛ Usually about distance)
じわっと [(2)じわっと] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ 辛さがじわっと効いてきた ⇨ I started to feel the spiciness gradually (☛ The effect of something to be felt gradually)
じわりじわり [(2,5)じわりじわり] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ 敵はじわりじわりと近付いてきている ⇨ The enemy is slowly getting closer (☛ A variation of じわじわ)
じわりと [(2)じわりと] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ 余りの湿気に動かなくても汗がじわりと出てくる ⇨ Because of the humidity I am sweating slowly even though I am not moving (☛ The effect of something to be felt gradually)
じんわり [(3)じんわり] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ 辛味がじんわり効いてきた ⇨ The hot taste is slowly coming (☛ The effect of something to be felt gradually)
ちょっとづつ [(5)ちょっとづつ] [coll] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ あのブランデーは高いからちょっとずつ飲んでいる ⇨ That brandy is expensive so I drink little by little (☛ Typically use something little by little)
ちびちび [(1)ちびちび] meaning: gradual rank: 4
☆ 彼は酒をちびちび飲んでいる ⇨ He’s sipping his drink little by little (☛ Usually about drink)
ちびりちびり [(2)ちびりちびり] meaning: gradual rank: 4
☆ 彼は酒をちびりちびり飲んでいる ⇨ He’s sipping his drink little by little (☛ Usually about drink)
ちょぼちょぼ [(1)ちょぼちょぼ] meaning: gradual rank: 4
☆
ひたひた [(1)ひたひた] meaning: gradual rank: 4
☆ 危険がひたひたと近づいてきている ⇨ Danger is getting closer, slowly but surely (☛ Usually about distance)
► 名詞
済し崩し [なしくずし] meaning: gradual rank: 4
☆ 彼は大統領になると民主機構を済し崩し的に解体した ⇨ Once he became the president he gradually dissolved the democratic systems (☛ Usually for worse)
► 形容詞
緩い [(2)ゆるい] meaning: gradual rank: 1
☆ 緩い曲線 ⇨ A gradual curve
► 形容動詞
緩やか [(2)ゆるやか] meaning: gradual rank: 2
☆ 景気は緩やかに改善している ⇨ The economy has been improving gradually
☆ 緩やかな坂 ⇨ A gradual, moderate, slope
なだらか [(2)なだらか] meaning: gradual rank: 3
☆ なだらかな傾斜 ⇨ A gentle, gradual, slope (☛ Not steep, sharp-angled)