Definition

Adverb: - Gradually, little by little: Indicates a slow, progressive change or action that happens over a period of time. It emphasizes a gentle, unhurried pace.

Usage

• lần lần is used to describe how an action occurs or a state changes slowly and steadily.
• It often conveys a sense of natural, inevitable progression.
• Common sentence position: It can be placed before or after the verb it modifies.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Cô ấy lần lần hiểu ra vấn đề. (She gradually understood the problem.)
  • Nỗi buồn lần lần tan biến. (The sadness faded away little by little.)
  • Chúng tôi đi lần lần lên đỉnh núi. (We walked slowly and steadily up to the mountain peak.)

Advanced Usage

• "lần lần rồi sẽ...": Gradually, (something) will eventually... (Used to express that a result will come with time and patience).
  • Cứ kiên nhẫn, lần lần rồi sẽ thành công. (Just be patient, gradually you will succeed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dần dần: A very close synonym, also meaning "gradually" or "step by step." It is often interchangeable with lần lần.
• Từ từ: Means "slowly" or "gently," often used for physical speed or caution. While similar, từ từ focuses more on slowness of action, whereas lần lần emphasizes progressive change over time.
• Lần: As a verb, means "to try" or "to attempt." As a classifier, it means "time" or "occasion" (e.g., - one time). The reduplicated form lần lần derives its meaning from the idea of things happening one step/occasion at a time.

Synonyms

• Từng bước một: Step by step.
• Chậm rãi: Leisurely, unhurriedly.

Related Idioms

• Lần mò: To grope around, to feel one's way (often in the dark or figuratively when searching for information). This is a separate compound verb and not a direct variant of lần lần.
  • Anh ấy lần mò trong bóng tối để tìm công tắc đèn. (He groped in the darkness to find the light switch.)