進む

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 工事が予定通り進む。▶ —
   Construction is proceeding on schedule.
2. 前に進んでください。▶ —
   Please move forward.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Susumu (進む) is the Japanese intransitive verb for "advance / proceed / progress / run fast (of clocks)." The kanji 進 combines 辶 (movement) and 隹 (a bird, swift flight = rapid advance). Susumu pairs with the transitive susumeru (進める, push forward): "keikaku ga susumu" (the plan advances) vs "keikaku wo susumeru" (push the plan forward). Senses: (1) physical movement ("mae ni susumu" move forward, "kuruma ga susumu" the car moves on); (2) abstract progress ("kouji ga susumu" construction proceeds, "kenkyuu ga susumu" research progresses); (3) clock running fast — Japanese-specific usage where "tokei ga susunde iru" means the clock is ahead; (4) school promotion ("tsugi no gakunen ni susumu" advance to the next grade); (5) civilizational progress ("bunmei ga susumu" civilization progresses). The kanji 進 is shared with Korean jin (jin-hak, jin-bo) and Chinese jìn (进).

Quick check

1. Meaning of "tokei ga susunde iru"?

   • Clock is running fast (ahead of real time)
   • Clock is ticking
   • Clock has stopped
   • I am looking at the clock