📖 Meaning
Getting worse day by day. It describes a situation where something increases in intensity or severity with each passing day. Often used for negative trends that progressively deteriorate.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from a memorial submitted by the Northern Song dynasty statesman Wang Anshi to Emperor Shenzong, titled 'Qi Jie Jiwu Zhazi' (A Memorial Requesting Relief from Duties). Wang Anshi wrote that his illness had been worsening over the year, and despite having previously appealed to the emperor for relief, his plea was not granted, so he struggled on, yet his suffering grew worse day by day. The phrase thus emerged from a statesman's honest account of his declining health and the burden of office.
💡 Example Usage
自入冬以来，老人的病情日甚一日，家人无不忧心忡忡。
Since winter began, the old man's illness has worsened day by day, and his family has been deeply worried.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 日甚一日
- Pinyin: rì shèn yī rì
- Literal Translation: day, surpass, one, day
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4