与时俱进
yǔ shí jù jìn · HSK 7
to keep up with the times
🕰️ 与时俱进 = 与 with + 时 time + 俱 together + 进 advance: move forward together with the times
Four-character set phrase built from 与 (with), 时 (time), 俱 (all/together), 进 (advance). Literally to advance in step with the times — used for staying current and progressive rather than falling behind.
与 — hand 𠂇 + give/tusks 牙-like element
与 is the simplified form of 與. The traditional 與 depicts four hands cooperating to lift and pass an object, conveying the idea of giving or participating together. Over time the meaning extended to 'and' and 'with', linking parties who share or take part in something.
时 — sun 日 + temple/measure 寺
Originally a phono-semantic compound: 日 (sun) gives the meaning of time or season, while 寺 (shí) supplies the sound. Early forms used 之 as the phonetic before 寺 replaced it. The core sense 'season, time, hour' has stayed stable since ancient Chinese.
进 — walk radical 辶 + well 井
Originally a semantic-phonetic compound: the walking radical 辶 gives the meaning of movement, while 井 (jǐng, 'well') supplied the sound. The traditional form 進 used 隹 (short-tailed bird) suggesting forward flight; the simplified 进 swapped 隹 for the simpler phonetic 井. The core meaning 'to advance, enter' has stayed stable.