最近

saikin
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recently, lately, nearest, closest
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/saikiɴ/
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The time or place closest to a point of reference.

Examples

  • 最近、よく雨が降ります。
    It has rained a lot lately.
  • 地図上で海岸に最近の道を探す。
    Find the road nearest the coast on the map.
  • 駅に最近の地点を選ぶ。
    Choose the point closest to the station.
  • 最近のニュースを教えて。
    Tell me the latest news.
  • 最近までこの店を知らなかった。
    I did not know this shop until recently.

Similar words

このごろ
近ごろ
最も近い
最寄り
このところ

Meanings

Lately or recently

adverb
time
neutral
During the period just before now, or at a point in the near past.

Examples

  • 最近、よく雨が降ります。
    It has rained a lot lately.
  • 彼とは最近会っていない。
    I have not seen him recently.
  • 最近のニュースを教えて。
    Tell me the latest news.
  • それを知ったのはごく最近です。
    I learned that only very recently.
  • 最近までこの店を知らなかった。
    I did not know this shop until recently.

Similar words

Nearest in distance

noun
space
formal
Closest to a named place or object, a formal use chiefly in technical writing.

Examples

  • 太陽に最近の恒星を調べた。
    They studied the star nearest the sun.
  • 駅に最近の地点を選ぶ。
    Choose the point closest to the station.
  • この島に最近の陸地はどこですか。
    What is the landmass nearest this island?
  • 震源に最近の観測点で揺れを測った。
    They measured the shaking at the station closest to the epicenter.
  • 地図上で海岸に最近の道を探す。
    Find the road nearest the coast on the map.

Similar words

Etymology

FAQ

What does 最近 mean?

The time or place closest to a point of reference.

How do you read 最近?

It is read さいきん, written saikin.

When would you use 最近?

The time sense is common in conversation; the distance sense chiefly appears in formal or technical descriptions.

How is 最近 different from このごろ?

このごろ covers a shorter stretch around now and does not usually pick out one recent moment.

How does 最近 change in a sentence?

It is invariant: 最近, 最近の and 最近まで use particles rather than inflection.

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