進歩|しんぽshinpo[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbprogress; advance; improvement; development
   科学かがくの進歩しんぽは止とまることがない。↗

   Advance in science is continuous.

• Synonym向上こうじょうNeutralRefers to a rise in level or quality, as in 「技術の向上」; 「進歩」 stresses moving to a better stage and is common for technology and society.
• Synonym進展しんてんNeutralCovers matters or negotiations making headway; stresses degree of advance, not necessarily improvement, while 「進歩」 always means moving toward the better.
• Synonym上達じょうたつNeutralMeans gaining skill, as in 「英語が上達する」; applies to individuals or teams. 「進歩」 is broader, covering technology and society too.
• SynonymかいぜんNeutralMeans fixing what is bad; 「進歩」 does not presuppose flaws, only that things are better than before.
• Synonym進化しんかNeutralCovers biological evolution and, figuratively, successive upgrades in technology; 「進歩」 carries no sense of species evolving.
• Synonym進みすすみNeutralA noun for how far work has gone, as in 「仕事の進み具合」; 「進歩」 specifically means getting better.
• Synonym前進ぜんしんNeutralMeans moving forward, also figuratively nearing a goal, as in 「一歩前進」; 「進歩」 is about level or quality improving.
• Synonym発展はってんNeutralRefers to expansion and flourishing, stressing overall growth in scale; 「進歩」 stresses gains in quality.
• Synonym発達はったつNeutralUsed for mind, body, technology or transport becoming fully developed, as in 「交通の発達」; 「進歩」 stresses being better than before.
• Related進行しんこうNeutralDescribes the advance of events or a disease; fairly neutral and not necessarily for the better, whereas 「進歩」 always implies improvement.
• Related成長せいちょうNeutralRefers to living things growing or people and economies maturing; 「進歩」 focuses on gains in level or skill.
• Related進出しんしゅつNeutralMeans advancing into a new field or market, or moving up in a competition; it is about expanding one's ground, not the rising level that 「進歩」 describes.
• Related展開てんかいNeutralUsed for situations or plots unfolding and business being rolled out; carries no sense of getting better, which is all 「進歩」 means.
• Related改良かいりょうNeutralMeans improving products or breeds, as in 「品種改良」; stresses people reworking something, while 「進歩」 describes the subject itself moving to a better state.
• Related発育はついくWrittenWritten style; refers to the physical growth of organisms only. 「進歩」 is never used for the body.
• Related伸びるのびるNeutralA verb for gains in results or ability, common in speech; 「進歩」 is a noun with a more formal feel.
• Related伸長しんちょうWrittenWritten style; used for the extension of influence, results or ability, stressing quantitative growth. 「進歩」 stresses moving to a better state.
• Related進捗しんちょくNeutralRefers to work progress, as in 「進捗状況」, common in project management; it covers only how far things have come, while 「進歩」 means getting better.
• Related増進ぞうしんWrittenWritten style; used for increases in health, appetite, welfare and the like. 「進歩」 centers on technology and level.
• Related育つそだつNeutralA verb for growing up or being raised; 「進歩」 is about raising one's level, not growing up.
• Related漸進ぜんしんWrittenWritten style; means advancing step by step, stressing a slow, gradual pace. 「進歩」 says nothing about speed.
• Related開化かいかWrittenWritten style; means a society becoming enlightened, mostly in 「文明開化」; limited to culture and society, while 「進歩」 applies widely.
• Related進境しんきょうWrittenRare, written style; the degree of progress in skill, as in 「著しい進境を見せる」. In daily speech use 「進歩」 or 「上達」.
• Antonym後退こうたいNeutralMeans falling back or reversing, also economic recession; the opposite of the forward movement in 「進歩」.
• Antonym退歩たいほNeutralThe direct opposite: a level or state dropping below what it was, as in 「技術が退歩する」.

Use 「進歩」 for movement toward the better in technology, society or ability. For gaining skill say 「上達」; for a rise in level or quality 「向上」; for matters or negotiations advancing 「進展」; for growth in scale 「発展」. 「改善」 and 「改良」 fix flaws; 「進化」 is evolution; 「進行」 and 「進捗」 track how far things have gone without judging better or worse; 「退歩」 and 「後退」 are the opposites.

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

1. 物事ものごとが良よい方向ほうこうへ進すすんでいくこと。