进程

• Pinyin: jìn chéng
• Hanzi breakdown: 进 = to advance; 程 = 禾 (grain) + 呈 (present) — journey, process, procedure

Meaning

Process; course; progress. The progression or advancement of something over time.

Used for ongoing developments like historical processes, negotiations, reforms, or projects. More formal than 过程 and emphasizes forward movement. Also used in computing to mean a running program (process).

Examples

1. 城市化进程加速改变了人们的生活方式。 The accelerating urbanization process has changed people's lifestyles.
2. 和平谈判进程遭遇了新的障碍。 The peace negotiation process has encountered new obstacles.
3. 这个软件可以显示电脑上运行的所有进程。 This software can display all the processes running on the computer.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, development, computing

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 推进改革进程。(Advance the reform process.)
• 历史进程。(The course of history.)

Don't Say

• 吃饭的进程 (Don't use 进程 for everyday activities — use 过程 instead; 进程 is for significant, formal processes)

Origin & History

Composed of 进 (to advance; progress) + 程 (journey; distance; process). Together meaning the course or process of advancement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Formal/technical contexts