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与时俱进 (yǔ shí jù jìn) — to keep up with the times; to advance with the times

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning 'advance with the times' — a formal, written phrase about continuously updating oneself or one's work. Unlike the plain adjective 进步 (progress/advance), this is a fixed chengyu used in official or editorial contexts.

phrase
to keep up with the timesto advance with the times

Examples

  • 与时俱进，。
    Zhǐ yǒu yǔ shí jù jìn, gōng sī cái néng zài shì chǎng shàng lì zú.
    Only by keeping up with the times can a company stand in the market.
  • 与时俱进，。
    Tā de zuò pǐn yì zhí jiān chí yǔ shí jù jìn, suǒ yǐ hěn shòu huān yíng.
    His works have always insisted on keeping up with the times, so they are very popular.
  • 与时俱进。
    Xué xí xīn jì shù jiù shì yǔ shí jù jìn de biǎo xiàn.
    Learning new technologies is an expression of keeping up with the times.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 與; 与 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 與 is built from 舁 and 牙, and both parts give the sound.

Open 与 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
具
具jù俱jù
Same sound today

俱 pairs 亻, a form of 人 (person), with 具 as the sound part.

Open 俱 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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