How to say "Advance" in Japanese

When translating "advance" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 進む and 進める. In Japanese, 進む (すすむ (susumu)) is typically associated with "to advance, to go forward, to proceed (intransitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when something moves forward or makes progress on its own, like a clock, a project, or time.. On the other hand, 進める (すすめる (susumeru)) maps to "to advance, to promote, to push forward (transitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when someone or something causes an action to move forward, like advancing a plan or promoting a person.. A literal translation of "advance" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!