Have you ever felt like things are moving forward so quickly — in technology, science, or even your personal life — that you can barely keep up? In Japanese, there's a beautiful idiom that captures this sense of continuous advancement: 日進月歩 (nisshin geppo).
What Does It Mean?
Nisshin geppo literally translates to “daily advance, monthly progress.” It describes the idea of steady and ongoing development — not just sudden bursts of innovation, but a consistent forward motion. Whether it’s applied to cutting-edge technology or personal growth, this idiom expresses the beauty of continuous effort.
Breaking Down the Idiom
Like many traditional Japanese idioms, 日進月歩 is composed of four Chinese characters (called kanji), each carrying its own meaning:
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日 (nichi) – day
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進 (shin) – to advance
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月 (getsu) – month
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歩 (ho) – to walk
Together, they paint a poetic image: moving forward a little each day, walking steadily each month. It’s a reminder that meaningful progress often comes not in leaps, but in steady steps.
How Is It Used?
This phrase is commonly used in Japan to describe fast-evolving fields like science and technology. For example:
科学技術は日進月歩で進化している。
Kagaku gijutsu wa nisshin geppo de shinka shite iru.
“Science and technology are evolving day by day, month by month.”
In English, we might say:
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“Technology is advancing rapidly.”
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“We’re making steady progress.”
But nisshin geppo adds a sense of rhythm and quiet persistence that’s hard to match.
Are There English Equivalents?
There’s no exact equivalent in English, but similar phrases include:
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“Making great strides”
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“Progressing by leaps and bounds”
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“Steady progress”
However, these tend to emphasize speed or scale, whereas nisshin geppo feels more graceful, more inevitable. It’s about progress that happens with time and effort, not just dramatic breakthroughs.
Why It Matters
In a world that often values overnight success, nisshin geppo is a gentle reminder that consistent progress — even if slow — is still progress. Whether you're learning a new skill, building a business, or trying to improve yourself, moving forward little by little is powerful.
So the next time you feel frustrated by how long things take, think of 日進月歩. Every step counts.
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