進む vs 進める
JLPT N4 vocabulary · what is the difference?
進む is intransitive — something moves forward by itself (工事が進む, the construction is progressing). 進める is transitive — someone pushes something forward (計画を進める, to move the plan along). If a person is driving it and there is a を, use 進める; if you are simply reporting progress, use 進む.
When to use each
進む
すすむ
Use 進む to report that something is moving ahead — work, construction, a queue, a person walking forward. It takes が and never を. It is also the normal verb for a clock running fast.
工事が順調に進んでいます。
こうじがじゅんちょうにすすんでいます。
The construction is progressing smoothly.
この時計は五分進んでいます。
このとけいはごふんすすんでいます。
This clock is five minutes fast.
進める
すすめる
Use 進める when a person does the pushing: 話を進める, 仕事を進める, 計画を進める. It is the everyday office verb for getting on with something. You can also 時計を進める, meaning you set the clock forward on purpose.
計画を進めましょう。
けいかくをすすめましょう。
Let's move the plan forward.
準備をもう少し早く進めてください。
じゅんびをもうすこしはやくすすめてください。
Please move the preparations along a bit faster.
Sentences where only one works
仕事が進まなくて困っています。
しごとがすすまなくてこまっています。
I'm stuck because the work isn't progressing.
You are describing the state of the work rather than your own effort, so 進む.
来週までに仕事を進めておきます。
らいしゅうまでにしごとをすすめておきます。
I'll push the work along by next week.
You are the one moving it, so 進める with を.
時計が五分進んでいます。
とけいがごふんすすんでいます。
The clock is five minutes fast.
The clock drifted by itself. 時計を五分進めました would mean you set it forward deliberately.
前の人が進んだら、一歩前に出てください。
まえのひとがすすんだら、いっぽまえにでてください。
When the person ahead moves up, step forward.
A person moving their own body forward is always 進む, never 進める.
Common mistakes
計画が進めています。
計画を進めています。
進める needs を. With が the verb has to be 進む: 計画が進んでいます。
私は前に進めました。
私は前に進みました。
You moved yourself, which is intransitive. 前に進める would mean moving some other thing forward.
この時計は五分進めています。
この時計は五分進んでいます。
A clock that gains time does it on its own, so 進む. 進めています says a person is in the act of setting it ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Is 進める the same as すすめる meaning "to recommend"?
No — that one is written 勧める (or 薦める for recommending a person or a book). They sound identical, so the kanji is what tells them apart. 進める is only about moving something forward.
Can I say 話を進む?
No. 話 is the thing being moved along, so it takes を and 進める. 話が進む is fine and means the conversation is moving along by itself.
Which one do I use for a clock?
時計が進む for a clock that runs fast on its own; 時計を進める when you set it forward. The opposite pair is 遅れる and 遅らせる.