先进 xiānjìn sophisticated
sophisticated; advanced (technology etc); meritorious; exemplary (deeds etc)
How to remember 先进: 先 first + 进 enter = sophisticated.
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How it is used
- Advanced / cutting-edge, and 'exemplary' - 先进技术 (xiānjìn jìshù) advanced technology; 先进工作者 (xiānjìn gōngzuòzhě) a model worker.
- For tech it means state-of-the-art; for people it means award-worthy exemplary conduct.
- Contrast 落后 (luòhòu, backward/lagging), its antonym.