How to say "advance" in Japanese

• 進むすすむJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: something advances or goes forward by itself, such as work, a discussion, or a person walking ahead. Use this when the subject moves forward on its own.
• 進めるすすめるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTransitive counterpart: to advance or move something forward, including putting a clock or watch forward. Use this when you make something progress rather than progress yourself.
  ナポレオンは軍隊ぐんたいをロシアに進すすめた。↗

  Napoleon marched his armies into Russia.
• 進出しんしゅつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun (also taking する) for advancing into a new market, industry, or area; expansion or launch into new territory. It is about entering a new field, not physical forward movement.
  その会社かいしゃは中国ちゅうごくへの進出しんしゅつを目指めざしている。↗

  The company aims to branch out into China.
• 前進ぜんしんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun meaning an advance, moving forward, or progress. It suits describing forward movement or progress as a thing, whether by troops, a project, or an organization.
  軍隊ぐんたいは丘おかの上うえへ前進ぜんしんした。↗

  The army advanced up the hill.
• 進撃しんげきCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbAn advance or charge in a military sense. For ordinary senses of 'advance' this is seldom the word you want; reserve it for charging or attacking movement.
  軍隊ぐんたいは敵てきに向むかって進撃しんげきした。↗

  The army advanced on the enemy.

Use 「進む」 for something moving forward on its own, 「進める」 for moving something forward, 進出 for expanding into new markets or fields, 前進 for forward progress as a noun, and 進撃 for a military advance or charge.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 進むすすむto advance
• 進めるすすめるto advance
• 進出しんしゅつadvance (into a new market, industry, etc.)
• 前進ぜんしんadvance
• 進撃しんげきadvance
• 進歩しんぽprogress
• 踏み出すふみだすto step forward
• 進捗しんちょくprogress
• 上達じょうたつimprovement (e.g. in skill, ability)
• 早めるはやめるto bring forward (e.g. by 3 hours)
• はかどるto make (good) progress
• 進軍しんぐんmarch
• 増進ぞうしんpromoting
• 更けるふけるto get late
• 進塁しんるいadvance (to the next base)
• バンスadvance (payment)
• 繰り上げるくりあげるto move up
• 繰り上げくりあげupward move
• 貸金かしきんloan
• 進攻しんこうattack
• 騰貴とうきrise (in price or value)
• アドバンスadvance (forward movement)
• 勝ち上がるかちあがるto win through (e.g. to finals)
• 上騰じょうとうadvance
• 回を重ねるかいをかさねるto advance (as of a baseball game)
• 前借金ぜんしゃくきんloan
• 上進じょうしんprogress
• ステップアップstep-up
• 進運しんうんprogress
• 立替金たてかえきん(cash) advance
• 進行しんこうprogress (of work, activities, etc.)
• 唱えるとなえるto advocate
• 開けるひらけるto develop (of a town, civilization, etc.)
• 歩みあゆみcourse (of history, one's life, etc.)
• 上がるあがるto be promoted
• 送るおくるto pass (on, along)
• 上るのぼるto advance (in price)