水涨船高

shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom); fig. to change with the overall trend
2. to develop according to the situation

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as the water recedes, the rocks appear (idiom)

水落石出 means 'when the water recedes, the stones appear', often used to indicate that the truth comes out; complementary idiom to 水涨船高.

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abreast of modern developments

与时俱进 means 'to advance with the times'; similar to 水涨船高 in the sense of changing along with overall trends.

Often used with abstract nouns like 物价 (prices) or 水平 (level): 物价水涨船高.

Not used for physical floating; only for metaphorical rise tied to a trend. Don't use for literal boats.

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随着物价上涨，房租也水涨船高。

As prices rise, rents also increase correspondingly.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

water

to rise (of prices, rivers)

to swell

boat

high