Chinese Character: 进
1. Character Basics
Radical: 辶/chuò (walking radical)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jìn (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
To enter, to go in, to advance, to progress
4. Common Words
- 进去 (jìn qù): To go in, to enter
- 进步 (jìn bù): Progress, improvement
- 前进 (qián jìn): To move forward, to advance
- 进口 (jìn kǒu): Import
- 进入 (jìn rù): To enter, to come into
- 上进心 (shàng jìn xīn): Desire to make progress, ambition
5. Grammar & Usage
As a verb:
- 进门 (jìn mén): To enter the door
- 进水 (jìn shuǐ): To let in water
As a noun:
- 进步 (jìn bù): Progress, improvement
- 进展 (jìn zhǎn): Development, progress
In idioms:
- 进退两难 (jìn tuì liǎng nán): Dilemma, between a rock and a hard place
- 循序渐进 (xún xù jiàn jìn): Step by step, in an orderly way
- 急进冒险 (jí jìn mào xiǎn): Radical and risky
Usage patterns:
- Often used with directional words: 前进 (forward), 后进 (backward progress)
- Can be combined with other verbs to indicate movement inward or forward: 推进 (push forward), 促进 (promote)
- Used in abstract contexts: 思想进步 (ideologically progressive), 技术进步 (technological progress)
6. Cultural Background
The character 进 holds significant cultural meaning in Chinese society:
Philosophical significance:
- In Chinese philosophy, the concept of 进 embodies the idea of continuous improvement and advancement
- The balance between 进 (advancing) and 退 (retreating) is a key theme in traditional Chinese thought
Cultural values:
- 进取精神 (j进取 spirit) - enterprising spirit is highly valued in Chinese culture
- 上进心 (desire to make progress) is considered an important personal quality
Historical context:
- Throughout Chinese history, 进步思想 (progressive ideas) have driven social and political changes
- Reform movements often emphasized the need for 进步 (progress) and modernization
Modern relevance:
- The character remains widely used in contemporary Chinese to express concepts of growth, development, and advancement
- Phrases like 改革开放 (reform and opening up) incorporate ideas of progressive change
7. Example Sentence
中文: 请进，我们正在等你。
Pinyin: Qǐng jìn, wǒ men zhèng zài děng nǐ.
Translation: Please come in, we've been waiting for you.
8. Memory Tips
Character breakdown:
- 辶 (chuò, walking radical) on the bottom and right
- 井 (jǐng, well) in the middle
Mnemonic:
Imagine walking (辶) into a well (井) - representing the idea of entering or going in.
Visual association:
The walking radical 辶 gives the character a sense of movement forward or inward, which matches its meaning of entering or advancing. The 井 component helps with pronunciation and memorization.