进

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jìn: 进 - to enter, advance, go in

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jìn, 进, enter Chinese, go in Chinese, come in Chinese, advance Chinese, make progress in Chinese, how to use jin, 进来, 进去, 进步, Chinese verb for enter, HSK 1
  • Summary: Discover the essential Chinese verb 进 (jìn), a fundamental character you'll encounter daily. Meaning “to enter,” “to advance,” or “to come/go in,” 进 (jìn) is not just about walking through a door; it's a core concept related to making progress, scoring goals, and importing goods. This guide breaks down its simple structure, cultural importance, and crucial directional usage (进来 vs. 进去), providing practical examples to help you master this key HSK 1 character.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jìn
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Directional Complement
  • HSK Level: HSK 1
  • Concise Definition: To move from outside to inside; to enter; to advance or move forward.
  • In a Nutshell: 进 (jìn) is one of the most basic verbs of motion in Chinese. At its heart, it signifies crossing a threshold—whether it's a physical doorway, the start of a new phase in life, or progress in your studies. Think of it as any action that involves moving “forward” and “inward.”

Character Breakdown

  • 进 (jìn) is a phono-semantic compound character, making it easy to remember.
  • 辶 (chuò): This is the “walking” or “motion” radical. It's found in many characters related to movement, like 送 (sòng - to send) and 远 (yuǎn - far). It immediately tells you this character has something to do with action or travel.
  • 井 (jǐng): This character means “a well.” In 进, it primarily provides the phonetic sound. However, you can use a mnemonic: picture someone walking (辶) forward to get to a well (井) and go into its vicinity.
  • Together, the motion radical (辶) plus the phonetic component (井) create the concept of advancing or entering. The traditional form is 進, which more clearly shows the evolution, but the simplified form 进 is used in mainland China.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, 进 (jìn) carries a deeply positive and aspirational weight beyond just physical entry. It's intrinsically linked to the societal value of progress and self-improvement. The word for “progress” itself is 进步 (jìnbù), literally “to advance a step.” This concept is drilled into children from a young age: you must 进步 in your studies to 进 (jìn) a good university, which allows you to 进 (jìn) a good company.
  • Compare this to the English word “enter.” We “enter” a room, and it's a neutral action. We can also “enter a competition,” which is more significant. In Chinese, however, the “advancement” aspect of 进 (jìn) is much more prominent in daily thought. The opposite, 退 (tuì)—to retreat or move backward, as in 退步 (tuìbù)—carries a strong negative connotation of failure or regression. This forward-marching mentality encapsulated by 进 (jìn) is a cornerstone of modern Chinese ambition.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • As a simple verb “to enter”: Used in commands and simple statements.
    • `请进！ (Qǐng jìn!)` - Please come in!
    • `他进办公室了。(Tā jìn bàngōngshì le.)` - He entered the office.
  • With Directional Complements (Crucial!): This is the most common usage. The direction depends on the speaker's location.
    • 进来 (jìnlái): To come in (movement towards the speaker). Use this when you are inside and inviting someone in.
    • 进去 (jìnqù): To go in (movement away from the speaker). Use this when you are outside and telling someone to go into a building.
  • To Indicate Progress or Advancement:
    • 进步 (jìnbù): To make progress. `你的中文进步很快！(Nǐ de Zhōngwén jìnbù hěn kuài!)` - Your Chinese is progressing very quickly!
  • In Specific Contexts:
    • Sports: 进球 (jìnqiú) - To score a goal.
    • Business: 进口 (jìnkǒu) - To import.
    • Technology: 输入 (shūrù) - To input (here, a related character 入 is used, but the concept is similar).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • (At the door of your apartment, you see a friend)
    • 你好！请进！
    • Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo! Qǐng jìn!
    • English: Hello! Please come in!
    • Analysis: This is the most common and polite way to invite someone into a space where you are. 进 is used by itself as a simple, direct command.
  • Example 2:
    • (You are inside your room, and your mom is at the door)
    • 妈妈，你进来一下，我有事跟你说。
    • Pinyin: Māma, nǐ jìnlái yíxià, wǒ yǒu shì gēn nǐ shuō.
    • English: Mom, come in for a moment, I have something to tell you.
    • Analysis: Here, 进来 (jìnlái) is used because the speaker is inside the room, and the mom's movement is *towards* the speaker.
  • Example 3:
    • (You and a friend are outside a bookstore)
    • 这家书店看起来不错，我们进去看看吧。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shūdiàn kànqǐlái búcuò, wǒmen jìnqù kànkan ba.
    • English: This bookstore looks pretty good, let's go in and have a look.
    • Analysis: 进去 (jìnqù) must be used here because both speakers are *outside* the bookstore. Their movement is *away* from their current position and into the store.
  • Example 4:
    • 你的中文进步很大，说得越来越流利了。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ de Zhōngwén jìnbù hěn dà, shuō de yuèláiyuè liúlì le.
    • English: Your Chinese has made great progress, you're speaking more and more fluently.
    • Analysis: 进步 (jìnbù) is a set phrase meaning “to make progress.” It's extremely common when talking about skills, studies, or personal development.
  • Example 5:
    • 上课了，同学们快进教室吧！
    • Pinyin: Shàngkè le, tóngxuémen kuài jìn jiàoshì ba!
    • English: Class is starting, students, hurry and get into the classroom!
    • Analysis: In this context, the speaker (a teacher) could be inside or outside the classroom. Using just 进 (jìn) followed by the location (教室) is a clear and effective instruction.
  • Example 6:
    • 中国每年从巴西进口很多大豆。
    • Pinyin: Zhōngguó měi nián cóng Bāxī jìnkǒu hěn duō dàdòu.
    • English: China imports a lot of soybeans from Brazil every year.
    • Analysis: 进口 (jìnkǒu) is a specific economic term meaning “to import.” The “mouth” or “port” (口) is where goods “enter” (进) the country.
  • Example 7:
    • 比赛最后一分钟，他进了一个球！
    • Pinyin: Bǐsài zuìhòu yì fēnzhōng, tā jìn le yí ge qiú!
    • English: In the last minute of the match, he scored a goal!
    • Analysis: 进球 (jìnqiú) is the set phrase for scoring a goal in sports like soccer or basketball. You can also say 进了一个球 (jìn le yí ge qiú).
  • Example 8:
    • 开会的时候，手机要关机，不要让电话进来。
    • Pinyin: Kāihuì de shíhou, shǒujī yào guānjī, bú yào ràng diànhuà jìnlai.
    • English: During a meeting, your phone should be turned off; don't let calls come in.
    • Analysis: This is a more abstract use of 进来 (jìnlái). The “call” is metaphorically entering the space of the meeting. The direction is 来 (lái) because the call is coming *towards* the people in the meeting.
  • Example 9:
    • 他努力学习，就是为了能进一所好大学。
    • Pinyin: Tā nǔlì xuéxí, jiùshì wèile néng jìn yì suǒ hǎo dàxué.
    • English: He studies hard just so he can get into a good university.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the aspirational use of 进. It means “to be accepted into” or “to successfully enter” an institution.
  • Example 10:
    • 下雨了，水都进到我的鞋里了。
    • Pinyin: Xiàyǔ le, shuǐ dōu jìndào wǒ de xié lǐ le.
    • English: It rained, and water got into my shoes.
    • Analysis: The pattern 进到 (jìndào)…里 (lǐ) means “to get into…” or “to enter into…” It clearly shows movement from outside to inside an object.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The Golden Rule: 进来 (jìnlái) vs. 进去 (jìnqù)
    • This is the #1 mistake learners make. It's entirely dependent on the speaker's location.
    • Use 进来 (jìnlái - come in) when you are INSIDE the destination. The action moves towards you.
      • Correct: 我在家，你进来吧！(Wǒ zài jiā, nǐ jìnlái ba!) - I'm at home, come on in!
      • Incorrect: 我在家，你进去吧！(This sounds like you're a ghost watching from outside your own home).
    • Use 进去 (jìnqù - go in) when you are OUTSIDE the destination. The action moves away from you.
      • Correct: 我在门外，你先进去吧。(Wǒ zài mén wài, nǐ xiān jìnqù ba.) - I'm outside the door, you go in first.
      • Incorrect: 我在门外，你先进来吧。(This is illogical; they can't come towards you if you're both outside).
  • 进 (jìn) vs. 入 (rù)
    • 进 (jìn) is the common, everyday word for “enter.” It's used in spoken language constantly.
    • 入 (rù) is more formal and literary. You won't hear people say “请入!” (qǐng rù). Instead, 入 (rù) is found in compound words and formal contexts, like 入口 (rùkǒu) - entrance, 入学 (rùxué) - to enroll in school, or 收入 (shōurù) - income. For beginners, stick to 进 (jìn) for the active verb “to enter.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 进来 (jìnlái) - To come in. Emphasizes movement towards the speaker.
  • 进去 (jìnqù) - To go in. Emphasizes movement away from the speaker.
  • 进步 (jìnbù) - To make progress. A core concept built from 进.
  • 出 (chū) - The direct antonym of 进. It means “to exit” or “to go out.” (e.g., 出来 chūlái vs. 出去 chūqù).
  • 退 (tuì) - The direct antonym of the “advance” meaning. It means “to retreat” or “move back.” (e.g., 退步 tuìbù - to regress).
  • 进入 (jìnrù) - A more formal way to say “to enter.” Often used in writing or for abstract concepts (e.g., 进入新时代 - to enter a new era).
  • 前进 (qiánjìn) - To advance, to move forward. Used for armies, vehicles, or metaphorically for progress.
  • 进口 (jìnkǒu) - To import; an entrance (less common). The antonym is 出口 (chūkǒu), to export.
  • 入门 (rùmén) - Literally “to enter a door.” It means “entry-level” or “to get started” with a new skill (e.g., 汉语入门 - Introductory Chinese). Note the use of the formal 入 (rù).