jìnxíng: 进行 - to carry out, to conduct, to proceed

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• Summary: “进行” (jìnxíng) is a formal Chinese verb used to express the carrying out or conducting of a planned, organized, or official action. Unlike the simple “to do” (做, zuò), “进行” elevates an activity, framing it as a formal process, such as conducting a meeting, carrying out research, or proceeding with a discussion. Understanding when to use “进行” is key to sounding more professional and appropriate in formal contexts in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jìnxíng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To carry out, conduct, or proceed with an action or process, typically in a formal or organized context.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “进行” as a special “wrapper” you put around another verb to make it sound more official and process-oriented. You don't “进行” eating lunch, but you do “进行” a discussion or “进行” an investigation. It signals that the action is not a simple, everyday task but a structured, often lengthy, procedure. It adds a layer of formality and seriousness.

• 进 (jìn): To advance, enter, or move forward. The character contains the radical 辶 (chuò), which is related to walking and movement, signifying forward motion.
• 行 (xíng): To go, walk, or act. The character's ancient form depicted a crossroads, representing movement and travel. In modern Chinese, it's strongly associated with action and conduct.
• Combined Meaning: The characters “advance” (进) and “act” (行) combine to create the meaning of “carrying an action forward” or “to proceed with a course of action.” This perfectly captures the sense of moving a structured process along from start to finish.

While “进行” is primarily a grammatical function word, its frequent use reveals a cultural emphasis on formality, procedure, and seriousness in official, academic, and business spheres. In Chinese communication, clearly signaling the context—whether it's casual or formal—is very important. Using “进行” is a linguistic cue that an interaction is taking place within a structured, official framework. Compared to Western business or academic language, which might use a variety of specific verbs like “execute,” “undertake,” “facilitate,” or “prosecute,” Chinese often uses the versatile pattern “对…进行…” (duì… jìnxíng…) meaning “to carry out [a verb] on [an object].” This pattern provides a standard, respectful, and somewhat impersonal way to describe official actions, which aligns with cultural values that can prioritize collective process over individual, direct action in formal settings. It's less about “I am doing X” and more about “The process of X is being conducted.”

“进行” is rarely used in casual, daily conversation about personal activities. Its domain is the professional and public world.

• Formal Meetings and Business: It's standard for describing meetings, negotiations, or discussions.
  • e.g., 会议正在进行中。 (Huìyì zhèngzài jìnxíng zhōng.) - The meeting is in progress.
• Academic and Scientific Contexts: Used universally for research, experiments, and analysis.
  • e.g., 我们需要对这些数据进行分析。 (Wǒmen xūyào duì zhèxiē shùjù jìnxíng fēnxī.) - We need to conduct an analysis of this data.
• Official Announcements and News Reports: Journalists and officials use it to describe official actions like investigations or reforms.
  • e.g., 警方已对此事进行调查。 (Jǐngfāng yǐ duì cǐ shì jìnxíng diàochá.) - The police have already conducted an investigation into this matter.
• Sports and Competitions: Commentators use it to describe the progress of a game or match.
  • e.g., 比赛正在激烈地进行。 (Bǐsài zhèngzài jīliè de jìnxíng.) - The match is proceeding intensely.

A key rule of thumb: “进行” is almost always followed by a two-character abstract verb (like 讨论 tǎolùn, 研究 yánjiū, 合作 hézuò). It is almost never used with a single-character verb or a verb for a simple physical action.

• Example 1:
  • 会议从下午两点开始进行。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì cóng xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kāishǐ jìnxíng.
  • English: The meeting will be conducted starting from 2 PM.
  • Analysis: This is a standard, formal way to talk about a meeting. Using “进行” makes it sound more official than simply saying “开始 (kāishǐ)”.
• Example 2:
  • 医生正在为病人进行手术。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng zhèngzài wèi bìngrén jìnxíng shǒushù.
  • English: The doctor is performing surgery on the patient.
  • Analysis: “手术 (shǒushù)” is a formal, complex procedure, making “进行” the perfect verb to describe the action of carrying it out.
• Example 3:
  • 我们需要进行一次深入的讨论。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào jìnxíng yí cì shēnrù de tǎolùn.
  • English: We need to carry out an in-depth discussion.
  • Analysis: “讨论 (tǎolùn)” is a two-character abstract verb, a classic partner for “进行”. This sentence is very common in business or academic settings.
• Example 4:
  • 项目正在按计划进行。
  • Pinyin: Xiàngmù zhèngzài àn jìhuà jìnxíng.
  • English: The project is proceeding according to plan.
  • Analysis: Here, “进行” means “to proceed” or “to move forward,” emphasizing the process and progress of the project.
• Example 5:
  • 公司决定对所有员工进行安全培训。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng duì suǒyǒu yuángōng jìnxíng ānquán péixùn.
  • English: The company decided to conduct safety training for all employees.
  • Analysis: This shows the common structure “对 [object] 进行 [action]”. It's a formal and clear way to state that the training will be officially carried out.
• Example 6:
  • 两国代表进行了友好会谈。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó dàibiǎo jìnxíng le yǒuhǎo huìtán.
  • English: The representatives of the two countries held friendly talks.
  • Analysis: This is typical language you would read in a news report about diplomacy. “会谈 (huìtán)” (talks/negotiations) is a formal process.
• Example 7:
  • 请不要在考试进行的时候打扰我。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng búyào zài kǎoshì jìnxíng de shíhòu dǎrǎo wǒ.
  • English: Please don't disturb me while the exam is in progress.
  • Analysis: This highlights the durational aspect of “进行”—it describes an entire process that takes time.
• Example 8:
  • 科学家们对这种新材料进行了测试。
  • Pinyin: Kēxuéjiāmen duì zhè zhǒng xīn cáiliào jìnxíng le cèshì.
  • English: The scientists conducted tests on this new material.
  • Analysis: Again, the “对…进行…” structure is used to describe a formal, systematic action (testing) on a specific object (the new material).
• Example 9:
  • 网上投票正在火热进行中。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng tóupiào zhèngzài huǒrè jìnxíng zhōng.
  • English: The online voting is currently in full swing.
  • Analysis: The “进行中 (jìnxíng zhōng)” construction is a common way to say “in progress.”
• Example 10:
  • 我们必须对系统进行全面升级。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū duì xìtǒng jìnxíng quánmiàn shēngjí.
  • English: We must carry out a comprehensive upgrade of the system.
  • Analysis: “升级 (shēngjí)” (to upgrade) is treated here as a formal process, making “进行” appropriate.

The most common mistake for learners is overusing “进行” as a direct replacement for “to do.” It is not a general-purpose verb.

• Mistake 1: Using “进行” for simple, daily actions.
  • Incorrect: 我昨天进行了购物。 (Wǒ zuótiān jìnxíng le gòuwù.)
  • Why it's wrong: Shopping (购物) is a common, informal activity. It's not a formal, structured process.
  • Correct: 我昨天购物了。 (Wǒ zuótiān gòuwù le.)
• Mistake 2: Confusing “进行” with “做 (zuò)”.
  • 做 (zuò): The general verb for “to do” or “to make.” It's used for concrete tasks, jobs, or activities. (e.g., 做饭 zuòfàn - to cook, 做作业 zuò zuòyè - to do homework).
  • 进行 (jìnxíng): For abstract, formal, planned processes.
  • Example:
    • Incorrect: 你在进行什么？ (Nǐ zài jìnxíng shénme?)
    • Correct: 你在做什么？ (Nǐ zài zuò shénme?) - What are you doing?
• Mistake 3: Using “进行” with a noun instead of a verb.
  • Incorrect: 我们要进行一个项目。(Wǒmen yào jìnxíng yí gè xiàngmù.)
  • Why it's wrong: “进行” needs a verb to follow it. You conduct an *action*, not a noun.
  • Correct: 我们要做一个项目。 (Wǒmen yào zuò yí gè xiàngmù.) - We are going to do a project.
  • Also Correct (and more formal): 我们要对这个项目进行管理。(Wǒmen yào duì zhège xiàngmù jìnxíng guǎnlǐ.) - We need to conduct management of this project.

• 做 (zuò) - The everyday verb “to do, to make.” The most important contrast to the formal “进行”.
• 举行 (jǔxíng) - To hold (an event). Used for events with a clear beginning and end that gather people, like a ceremony (典礼), conference (会议), or wedding (婚礼). More specific than “进行”.
• 举办 (jǔbàn) - To host or organize (an event). Similar to 举行, but emphasizes the role of the organizer or host.
• 开展 (kāizhǎn) - To launch, develop, or carry out. Often used for broader activities or campaigns, like “开展一项运动” (launch a campaign). It implies starting something and letting it unfold.
• 实行 (shíxíng) - To implement or put into practice. Used specifically for policies (政策), rules (规定), or systems (制度).
• 处理 (chǔlǐ) - To handle, to deal with, to process. Focuses on managing a task, problem, or set of data to its conclusion.
• 正在 (zhèngzài) - An adverb indicating an action is in progress. It is frequently used together with 进行 (e.g., 正在进行) to emphasize that a process is currently underway.
• 过程 (guòchéng) - The noun for “process” or “course.” “进行” is the verb that describes moving through a “过程”.