进取

§ What 进取 means

The Chinese word 进取 (jìn qǔ) is an A2-level noun. It describes someone who is enterprising, ambitious, and actively seeks to make progress or achieve goals. Think of it as having a proactive and forward-thinking attitude, always striving to improve or move ahead.

Definition

Enterprising, ambitious.

When you hear or see 进取, it's generally a positive term. It suggests a person isn't content with the status quo and is always looking for ways to advance, whether in their career, studies, or personal development. It implies a spirit of initiative and a desire for achievement.

§ When to use 进取

You'll often encounter 进取 when talking about someone's character or work ethic. It's used to commend individuals who are proactive, goal-oriented, and not afraid to take on challenges. Here are some common situations:

• Describing someone's personality: If someone is always pushing their boundaries and aiming higher, they have a strong sense of 进取.
• Evaluating performance: In a professional setting, a manager might praise an employee for their 进取精神 (jìn qǔ jīng shén - enterprising spirit).
• Encouraging effort: You might use it to motivate someone to be more proactive in their studies or work.
• Discussing career aspirations: People with 进取 often have clear career goals and are actively working towards them.

Think about it this way: someone with 进取 is not just dreaming about success; they are actively pursuing it. They are not waiting for opportunities to come to them; they are creating them. It's about being dynamic and self-motivated.

It's important to note that while ambition can sometimes have negative connotations in English (e.g., 'overly ambitious'), 进取 in Chinese is almost always positive. It signifies a desirable trait of wanting to better oneself and achieve goals.

Alright, let's get straight to it. You've learned that 进取 (jìn qǔ) means 'enterprising' or 'ambitious'. Now, how do you actually use this word in a sentence? It's pretty straightforward, but there are a few nuances to be aware of. Think of it as a quality or an attitude. It often describes someone's spirit or personality, or even an organization's approach.

§ Basic Sentence Structure

The simplest way to use 进取 is to say someone or something 'is' enterprising or ambitious. You'll often see it with 是 (shì) – 'is' or 'to be'.

Translation hint

He is a very enterprising person. (lit. He is a person with a very enterprising heart.)

§ Describing Actions or Attitudes

You can also use 进取 to describe an attitude or an approach. In this case, it often appears with verbs like 保持 (bǎo chí) – 'to maintain', or 采取 (cǎi qǔ) – 'to adopt/take'.

Translation hint

We should maintain an enterprising attitude.

Translation hint

The company adopted a more aggressive (enterprising) market strategy.

§ As a Noun (less common but possible)

While often functioning like an adjective describing a 'spirit' or 'attitude', 进取 can sometimes stand alone as a noun meaning 'enterprising spirit' or 'ambition' in certain contexts. However, using 进取心 is almost always more natural and common.

§ Common Phrases and Structures with 进取

Here are some common ways you'll hear and use 进取:

• 有进取心 (yǒu jìn qǔ xīn): To have an enterprising spirit/ambition.

  年轻人应该有进取心。

  Translation hint

  Young people should be ambitious/have an enterprising spirit.

• 积极进取 (jī jí jìn qǔ): Actively enterprising/proactive and ambitious. This is a very common four-character idiom (成语, chéngyǔ) that reinforces the idea of being very proactive and striving forward.

  他工作一直积极进取。

  Translation hint

  He has always been proactive and ambitious in his work.

• 富有进取心 (fù yǒu jìn qǔ xīn): Full of enterprising spirit/ambition. 富有 (fù yǒu) means 'to be rich in' or 'full of'.

  这家公司员工都富有进取心。

  Translation hint

  The employees of this company are all full of ambition.

§ Don't Overthink Prepositions

Unlike English, where you might say 'ambitious for something' or 'enterprising in something', Chinese uses prepositions differently. With 进取 or 进取心, you're usually describing a general quality of a person or entity. If you need to specify what they're ambitious about, you'll typically use different sentence structures or other verbs, rather than directly attaching a preposition to 进取.

So, to summarize: 进取 describes a quality of being ambitious or enterprising. You'll most often see it with 心 (进取心) or in common set phrases like 积极进取. It describes a general spirit rather than a specific goal. Keep practicing these structures, and you'll get the hang of it!

§ 进取 (jìnqǔ) means enterprising or ambitious

You're learning Chinese, which is already a pretty 进取 (jìnqǔ) thing to do! This word is common in formal and semi-formal settings. You'll often hear it in conversations about work, school, and even in news reports.

DEFINITION

Enterprising, ambitious. It describes someone who is proactive, pushes forward, and has a strong desire to achieve or improve.

§ At Work: Describing employees and company culture

In the workplace, 进取 (jìnqǔ) is a highly valued quality. Employers often look for candidates who are 进取, meaning they don't just do the minimum but actively seek new challenges and opportunities.

• When describing a good colleague:

  他是一个很进取的员工，总是努力学习新技能。 (Tā shì yī gè hěn jìnqǔ de yuángōng, zōngshì nǔlì xuéxí xīn jìnéng.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  He is a very enterprising employee, always striving to learn new skills.

• When talking about a company's goals:

  我们公司有一种非常进取的文化。 (Wǒmen gōngsī yǒ yī zhǒng fēicháng jìnqǔ de wénhuà.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  Our company has a very enterprising culture.

§ In School: Praising students and their attitude

Teachers often use 进取 (jìnqǔ) to describe students who are keen to learn, participate actively, and show initiative.

• When a teacher praises a student:

  这个学生非常进取，总是主动提问。 (Zhè ge xuéshēng fēicháng jìnqǔ, zōngshì zhǔdòng tí wèn.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  This student is very enterprising, always actively asking questions.

• When talking about educational philosophy:

  学校鼓励学生拥有进取精神。 (Xuéxiào gǔlì xuéshēng yōngyǒ jìnqǔ jīngshén.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  The school encourages students to have an enterprising spirit.

§ In the News: Describing individuals and national progress

News reports often use 进取 (jìnqǔ) to highlight positive qualities in public figures, entrepreneurs, or even to describe a country's development.

• When talking about a successful entrepreneur:

  这位年轻的企业家具有很强的进取心。 (Zhè wèi niánqīng de qǐyèjiā jùyǒn hěn qiáng de jìnqǔ xīn.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  This young entrepreneur has a very strong enterprising spirit.

• When describing national development:

  我们应该保持进取的态度，推动社会进步。 (Wǒmen yīnggāi bǎo chí jìnqǔ de tàidù, tuī dòng shèhuì jìnbù.)

  TRANSLATION HINT

  We should maintain an enterprising attitude to promote social progress.