进步 (jìnbù) is the general word for 'progress' or 'to improve', covering personal skills, situations, and attitudes. It is broader than 改进 (gǎijìn), which implies deliberate modification to make something better, and 进展 (jìnzhǎn), which focuses on how a process or project is advancing (e.g., 工作进展). As an adjective, 进步 means 'progressive' (e.g., 进步思想), whereas 先进 (xiānjìn) describes advanced technology or exemplary people.