Meaning and Usage
The verb 進む (すすむ) primarily means "to advance" or "to proceed." It is used to describe the movement forward in both physical and abstract contexts, such as a car moving ahead or a project progressing.
Common Contexts
- Physical movement: When something or someone moves forward, like a vehicle or a person.
- Progress or development: Used to talk about the advancement of plans, projects, conversations, or time.
Collocations and Patterns
- 進む + smoothly/順調に (じゅんちょうに): to proceed smoothly, often used for projects or processes.
- どんどん進む: to advance rapidly or continuously, common in conversations or developments.
- 時間が進む: time passes or moves forward.
Register and Nuance
進む is a neutral verb suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is often used in business, daily conversation, and written language.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 進む with 進める (すすめる), which means "to advance something" (a transitive verb). Remember, 進む is intransitive (something advances by itself), while 進める requires a direct object (someone advances something).