About
The character for "to advance" or "to enter", now commonly written as "进", has a traditional form "進" which more clearly reveals its original construction and meaning. This older form is composed of the movement radical "辵", suggesting forward motion, combined with "隹", a pictograph representing a short-tailed bird. This combination is understood to depict a bird moving forward, often interpreted as a bird walking or hopping ahead, thus conveying the core idea of progressive movement. Over time, the semantic focus shifted from this specific avian imagery to the general concept of moving forward or entering a space. The simplified form "进", which replaces the "隹" component with "井" (well), represents a structural change that is based on a historical phonetic loan, where "井" was used for its similar pronunciation rather than its meaning, thereby streamlining the character while retaining the essential notion of progression conveyed by the surviving "辵" radical. Its meaning has consistently centered on forward motion, though its application broadened from physical movement to include abstract ideas of improvement, promotion, and entering a state or place.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请进屋里来。
他进步很快。
我们进入了一个新时代。
向前进是我们的目标。
公司今年引进了新技术。
在会议上，他提出了改进建议。
尽管遇到困难，我们仍要积极推进项目。
经济发展必须与社会进步相协调。