HSK 7-9
相继
xiāngjì
One after another; in succession
Structure
Subject(s) + 相继 + Verb / Time word + 相继 + Verb
How it works
The adverb '相继' indicates that two or more actions or events occur one after another in a short period of time. It is used in formal writing or news reporting to describe a sequence of related occurrences involving different subjects or multiple instances of the same action.
Examples
春雨过后,各种花卉相继开放。
Chūnyǔ guòhòu, gèzhǒng huāhuì xiāngjì kāifàng.
After the spring rain, various flowers bloomed one after another.
代表们相继发言,表达了对该计划的支持。
Dàibiǎomen xiāngjì fāyán, biǎodále duì gāi jìhuà de zhīchí.
The delegates spoke one after another, expressing their support for the plan.
这几家公司在去年相继倒闭了。
Zhè jǐ jiā gōngsī zài qùnián xiāngjì dǎobì le.
These companies went bankrupt one after another last year.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '相继' with '连续'. '连续' emphasizes that an action is continuous without interruption, while '相继' emphasizes multiple entities performing the same action or multiple events occurring in sequence.
Tip
Think of '相继' as describing a chain reaction or a series of dots being connected; it requires multiple subjects or plural concepts (like 'various flowers' or 'many people') to make sense.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 相继 in real Chinese
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