近 jìn close
How to remember 近: 辶 road + 斤 catty = close. Walking down the forest road with a catty of honey, the woodcutter notices the bear is suddenly far too close.
Component breakdown
近 = 辶 road + 斤 catty
- 辶 road
- 斤 catty
Walking down the forest road with a catty of honey, the woodcutter notices the bear is suddenly far too close.
How it is used
- Near in space or time: 最近 (zuìjìn) recently/lately, 附近 (fùjìn) nearby, 接近 (jiējìn) to approach.
- Contrast 远 (yuǎn, far) - 离这儿很近 (lí zhèr hěn jìn) it's close to here.
- 最近 spans both 'recently' (past) and 'these days/soon' - context decides.
Words with 近
- 最近zuìjìnrecentlyHSK 3
- 附近fùjìnnearbyHSK 3
- 将近jiāngjìnalmostHSK 5
- 接近jiējìnto approachHSK 5
- 近代jìndàithe not-very-distant pastHSK 5
- 近年来jìnniánláifor the past few yearsHSK 5
- 近日jìnrìthe past few daysHSK 5
- 近期jìnqīnear in timeHSK 5
- 靠近kàojìnto be close toHSK 5
- 贴近tiējìnto press close toHSK 6
- 近来jìnláirecentlyHSK 6
- 近视jìnshìshortsightedHSK 6
- 亲近qīnjìnintimateHSK 7
- 就近jiùjìnnearbyHSK 7
- 急功近利jígōng-jìnlìseeking instant benefit (idiom)HSK 7
- 相近xiāngjìncloseHSK 7
- 远近闻名yuǎnjìn-wénmíngto be known far and wideHSK 7
- 临近línjìnto approachHSK 8
- 逼近bījìnto press on towardsHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我家离学校很近。 Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.My house is very close to school.
- 她最近就要出国了。 Tā zuìjìn jiùyào chūguó le.She will go abroad soon.
- 附近有公共汽车站。 Fùjìn yǒu gōnggòng qìchēzhàn.There's a bus stop nearby.
- 这是附近最高的山。 Zhè shì fùjìn zuìgāo de shān.This is the highest mountain in the vicinity.