進む|すすむsusumu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto advance; to go forward
- godan verb, intransitive verbto precede; to go ahead (of)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto make progress; to improve
- godan verb, intransitive verbto deepen; to heighten
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be fast (of a clock); to be ahead
- godan verb, intransitive verbto do of one's own free will
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 進む（すすむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 進みます（すすみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 進まない（すすまない） |
| polite (masen) | 進みません（すすみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 進まず・進まぬ（すすまず・すすまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 進んだ（すすんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 進みました（すすみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 進まなかった（すすまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 進みませんでした（すすみませんでした） |
| Te form | 進んで（すすんで） |
| Potential | 進める（すすめる） |
| Passive | 進まれる（すすまれる） |
| Causative | 進ませる（すすませる） |
| Causative passive | 進ませられる・進まされる（すすませられる・すすまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 進めば（すすめば） |
| tara | 進んだら（すすんだら） |
| Volitional | 進もう（すすもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 進みましょう（すすみましょう） |
| Imperative | 進め（すすめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
進む describes something progressing on its own (e.g., 工事が進む), while 進める indicates that someone actively moves something forward (e.g., 会議を進める).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym前進ぜんしんNeutralNeutral. Moving forward or toward a better state, as in 「一歩前進」; carries a positive nuance.
- Related進行しんこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Sino-Japanese word for things proceeding, as in 「会議が進行する」; also the worsening of an illness. 「進む」 is more colloquial.
- Related歩むあゆむWrittenWritten/formal prose. Walking a path step by step, especially life's course, as in 「苦難の道を歩む」.
- Antonym止まるとまるNeutralNeutral. The direct opposite of 「進む」: something that was moving stops and no longer advances.
Default to 「進む」 for moving forward or making progress. Use 「進行」 for things proceeding, like meetings or an illness; 「前進」 for advancing toward a better state; 「歩む」 for walking life's path; 「止まる」 for stopping.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
