Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 14/22

益々(ますます)

Increasingly, More and more, Decreasingly, Less and less, Keep -ing

Structure Legend

Structure

ますます + Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ますます

When using the adverb ますます, it will have the meaning of 'increasingly', 'more and more', or even 'to keep (A)ing'. It is used to emphasize continuous trends, and will regularly be seen at the beginning of a sentence.
  • ()いにおいだね。この(にお)()いでるとますます(なか)()てくる
    That smells good, doesn't it? I am going to get more and more hungry if I keep smelling it.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)ますます友達(ともだち)(うしな)っていっている
    She is losing more and more of her friends.
  • (とし)()につれて益々(ますます)()(わる)くなっていくよ。
    As I get older, my eyes are getting worse (and worse).
Occasionally, the kanji form 益々(ますます) will be used. This will not change the nuance at all. The kanji (えき) simply means 'gain'.
Fun Fact
Despite sometimes being seen as 益々(ますます), this expression originally comes from the stacking of ()す, a う - Verb meaning 'to increase'. Due to this, ますます is most often used to highlight verbs that indicate some sort of change, or with adjectives that can increase in intensity.
  • 毎日(まいにち)日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)ているのでますます日本語(にほんご)(はな)せるようになってきた。
    Because I am studying Japanese everyday, I am able to speak more and more.
  • (ふゆ)になってからますます(すず)しくなった。
    Since becoming winter, it has become more and more brisk.
Caution
ますます is sometimes translated as 'less and less', but this situation is still actually considered as 'increasing' (increasingly negative).
  • 仕事(しごと)(いそが)しくて、ますます子供(こども)()ごす時間(じかん)()ていく
    Because work is so busy, I have less and less time to spend with my children.
  • コロナのせいで観光客(かんこうきゃく)ますます()って()く。
    Because of Covid, the number of tourists becoming less and less.

Examples

  • (みず)不足(ぶそく)ますます深刻(しんこく)になってきている。

    The water shortage is growing more and more severe.

  • (かれ)ますます信用(しんよう)(うしな)っている。

    He is losing more and more faith.

  • 時間(じかん)()つと(とも)に、ますます頭痛(ずつう)がひどくなってきた。

    As time goes on, my headache gets worse and worse.

  • 益々(ますます)(さむ)さが(きび)しくなってまいりました。

    It's growing increasingly colder.

  • (ちち)は60を()ぎ、益々(ますます)元気(げんき)になっているからすごい。

    My dad is past 60, and he is getting more and more energetic. It's amazing.

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ますます – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • s1212z

    s1212z

    About 4 years ago

    Looks like 一方だ can behave adverbially with a very similar meaning to ますます:

    -ますます+phrase+なる
    -phrase(w/ なる)+いっぽうだ

    Could you say this?

    ますます景気けいきは悪わるくなるから、ボーナスは出でないかもしれないですよ。

    Original BP entry:

    景気けいきは悪わるくなる 一方いっぽうだ から、ボーナスは出でないかもしれないですよ。

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 4 years ago

    Sorry for the slow, asnwer

    ますます景気は悪くなるから、ボーナスは出ないかもしれないですよ。
    景気は悪くなる 一方だ から、ボーナスは出ないかもしれないですよ。

    Yeah, both are correct. Though ますます version sounds more casual.

    Cheers,

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