进步

• Pinyin: jìn bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 进 = 辶 (movement) + 井 (well), simplified from 進; 步 = 止 (foot) + 少, meaning a step

Meaning

To make progress; progressive. Describes improvement or advancement in skills, knowledge, or conditions.

As a verb, means 'to make progress' or 'to improve.' As an adjective, describes something or someone as progressive or advanced. Commonly used in education to describe student improvement, and more broadly to describe social or technological advancement. The opposite is 退步 (to regress).

Examples

1. 你的中文进步了很多，继续加油！ Your Chinese has improved a lot, keep it up!
2. 只要每天练习，就一定能进步。 As long as you practise every day, you will definitely make progress.
3. 社会在不断进步，生活越来越方便。 Society is constantly progressing, and life is becoming more and more convenient.

Usage Guide

Context: education, encouragement, society

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 你最近进步很大！(You have made great progress recently!)
• 这是一种进步的思想。(This is a progressive idea.)

Don't Say

• 我今天进步了三页书。(Don't use 进步 to mean 'to get through' pages — 进步 is about improvement in quality or ability, not quantity; say 我今天看了三页)

Origin & History

进 (to advance, to enter) + 步 (step). Together meaning 'to advance a step' or 'to make progress.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal