What do 進, 退 and 平 mean in xiangqi notation?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
They are the three directions a move can take. 進 (jìn) advance, toward the opponent. 退 (tuì) retreat, toward yourself. 平 (píng) traverse, sideways along the rank. In WXF they are written +, − and =.
What follows each one
After 平, the number is always a destination file. After 進 or 退 it depends on the piece: for chariots, cannons, soldiers and generals — which move in straight lines — it is a distance. For horses, elephants and advisors, which move diagonally, it is the destination file, because a distance would not identify the point.
Pieces that cannot use all three
Soldiers never retreat, so 退 never appears with 兵 or 卒. Elephants and advisors move only diagonally, so they never use 平. Those absences are a quick way to sanity-check a move you are unsure you have read correctly.
Related questions
Does 進 mean the same for both sides?
Yes — it always means toward the opponent, from the mover's point of view.
Can a general use 平?
Yes, within the palace, moving sideways one point.
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