chýlit

The Czech verb chýlit, in its reflexive form chýlit se, translates to "to lean," "to tend towards," or "to be approaching." It is commonly used to describe the gradual movement or progression towards a particular state or time. For instance, chýlit se ke konci translates to "to be nearing the end," often used for events, periods, or days. The phrase chýlit se k ránu means "to be approaching dawn."

Beyond the temporal sense, chýlit se can also indicate a tendency or inclination. For example, one might say that a situation is chýlit se k lepšímu, meaning "to be tending towards the better," suggesting an improvement. Conversely, chýlit se ke zlému would indicate a worsening situation. The verb often implies a gradual, less abrupt shift rather than a sudden change.

The non-reflexive form chýlit exists but is much less common in contemporary usage, appearing primarily in older texts or specific idiomatic expressions. The reflexive form chýlit se is the standard and widely understood way to express these concepts of leaning, tending, or approaching in modern Czech. Its versatility allows for describing both physical inclinations and abstract progressions.