“〜ni tsurete・ni tsure”: As 〜 (gradual change) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“As time passed, I forgot” — as one thing progresses, another changes along with it

「時間が経つにつれて、悲しみが薄れていった」 — 「につれて・につれ」, gradually changing as ~

「時間が経つにつれて、悲しみは少しずつ薄れていった」 (as time passed, the sadness gradually faded) — 「(verb dictionary form／noun) ＋ につれて／につれ」 means “as A progresses, B gradually changes along with it”: two things changing bit by bit, in tandem. This guide covers 「につれて」's attachment, that “A changes bit by bit, and B changes bit by bit too” gradual feel, and separates it from 「に伴って／に従って／とともに」.

Core: A changes bit by bit, and B changes bit by bit too

The core of 「につれて」 is “gradual tandem change” — A (the first clause) is a gradually progressing change or process (time passing, aging, practice accumulating), and as it advances, B (the second clause) changes bit by bit along with it:

• Tandem with time/growth: 年を取るにつれて、体力が落ちてきた (as I age, my stamina has declined).
• Tandem with a process: 練習を重ねるにつれて、上達していった (as I practiced more, I gradually improved).

Feel: “as A (gradually progresses), B gradually …” — stressing slow, natural, synchronized change. 「につれ」 is the more written contracted form.

How to Connect

Examples in context

• 時間が経つにつれて、悲しみは少しずつ薄れていった。(As time passed, the sadness gradually faded.) — time
• 年を取るにつれて、記憶力が衰えてきた。(As I aged, my memory declined.) — growth
• 練習を重ねるにつれて、少しずつ上達していった。(As I practiced more, I gradually improved.) — process
• 山を登るにつれて、気温が下がっていった。(As we climbed, the temperature gradually dropped.) — tandem
• 時代の変化につれ、価値観も変わっていく。(As the times change, values change too.) — につれ (written)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① Only for ‘gradual, continuous' change, not a one-off action. につれて marks a “bit-by-bit, slow” tandem change; ✗ ボタンを押すにつれてドアが開く (pressing a button → the door opening is a “one-off” action, not gradual change — wrong). A one-off cause uses 「と／たら」 (ボタンを押すとドアが開く). Use につれて only for “gradually changing as ….”

② The second clause must also be a ‘gradual change,' no commands/volition. につれて's before and after are both natural, gradual changes, so no command, request, or volition follows (✗ 大人になるにつれて、しっかりしろ = telling someone to “become reliable” is unnatural). The second clause is usually a change expression like 「〜てくる／〜ていく／〜になる」 (体力が落ちてくる, 上達していく).

③ Attach the verb dictionary form, not the た-form. 進むにつれて (✗ 進んだにつれて), 増えるにつれて (✗ 増えたにつれて). 「につれて」 takes a verb's dictionary form (marking ongoing change), not the past た-form. Nouns attach directly (成長につれて).

🔄 Compare: につれて／に伴って／に従って／とともに

💡 Quick takeaway

The core of 「につれて・につれ」 is “as A progresses, B changes bit by bit too” — gradual, natural, synchronized change (時間が経つにつれて悲しみが薄れる = fading as time passes, 練習を重ねるにつれて上達する = improving as you practice). It stresses slow, gradual (not sudden, one-off change). Three points: ① only for gradual change (one-off actions use 「と/たら」, ✗ ボタンを押すにつれて); ② the second clause is also a change, no commands/volition (often with 〜てくる/〜ていく); ③ attach the dictionary form (進むにつれて, ✗ 進んだ). 「につれ」 is the more written contracted form. Close to 「に伴って (accompanying, more formal)」, につれて is more colloquial and focuses on “gradual, natural change.” To say “changing slowly as …,” につれて is spot-on.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I tell 「につれて」 from 「に伴って」? (both ‘as … changes')

Very close (both “A changes, B changes along with it”), differing in feel and register. 「につれて」 = as A gradually changes, B gradually changes (stressing ‘gradual, slow, natural' tandem change, speech and writing): 日が沈むにつれて、あたりは暗くなった (as the sun set, the surroundings gradually darkened — slow tandem), 成長するにつれて、考え方が変わった (as I grew, my thinking gradually changed). It focuses on “changing bit by bit along with it.” 「に伴って」 = accompanying A (B also occurs/changes) (more written, formal, and can take an ‘accompanying event,' not limited to gradual change): 経済の発展に伴って、環境問題が深刻化した (accompanying economic development, environmental problems worsened — more formal), 人口増加に伴う問題 (problems accompanying population growth), 台風の接近に伴って、電車が止まった (accompanying the typhoon's approach, trains stopped — an accompanying event, not necessarily slow gradual change). It's more formal and broader (can mean “occurring alongside,” not limited to slow gradual change). So: “gradual, slow tandem change (speech/writing)” → につれて; “accompanying … (more formal, can be an accompanying event)” → に伴って. For a plain “changing slowly as …” the two are often interchangeable (年を取るにつれて／に伴って), but につれて is more colloquial and stresses “gradual,” に伴って more written and broader (including accompanying events).

Q: What form does the verb before 「につれて」 take? Can it be the た-form?

The verb dictionary form (marking ongoing, in-progress change), not the た-form: 時間が経つにつれて (✗ 経ったにつれて), 暗くなるにつれて (✗ 暗くなったにつれて), 練習するにつれて (✗ 練習したにつれて). Because 「につれて」 expresses “changing gradually (in tandem) as one goes,” the verb takes the dictionary form (present/ongoing) to mark that “in-progress gradual change”; the past た-form doesn't fit. Nouns attach directly to 「につれて」 (成長につれて, 時代の変化につれて). Writing often uses the contracted 「につれ」 (dictionary form ＋ につれ: 技術が進むにつれ). Mnemonic: verb dictionary form ＋ につれて／につれ; noun ＋ につれて／につれ — verbs are always the dictionary form, never た-form. This differs from 「〜たら／〜たとたん」 (which use the た-form) — don't confuse them.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「練習を重ねる___、上達していった。」（as (they) practiced repeatedly, (they) gradually improved）

(A) につれて　(B) とたんに　(C) ものの　(D) どころか

Q2. 「につれて」の前に来る動詞の形は?

(A) Dictionary form　(B) た-form　(C) て-form　(D) ます-form

Q3. 「年を取るにつれて体力が落ちる」の意味は?

(A) As (one) grows older, physical strength gradually declines (a synchronized change)

(B) Age and strength are unrelated

(C) The older, the stronger

(D) Suddenly lose strength

Q4. 「につれて」が表すのは?

(A) As A gradually changes, B also gradually changes (linked)

(B) Because of A, suddenly B

(C) Although A, B

(D) Even if A, B

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) 経済の発展につれて、生活が豊かになった。　(B) ボタンを押すにつれてドアが開く (one-time)。

(C) 雨が降るにつれて、傘をさせ (command)。　(D) 朝になるにつれて起きろ。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) につれて ── Gradually improves with practice (synchronized change).

2. (A) Dictionary form ── Dictionary form ＋ につれて.

3. (A) ── Strength gradually declines as one ages.

4. (A) ── A changes gradually, B changes along with it (linked).

5. (A) ── A gradual change; (B) is one-time, (C)(D) take a command, all unnatural.