几近 (jǐ jìn) — almost, nearly, on the verge of (formal/literary)

Definition

A formal adverb meaning 'almost / on the verge of,' used in writing to describe a state reached just short of an extreme. Stronger and more literary than the everyday 几乎, which is the spoken equivalent for most contexts.

adverb
almostnearlyon the verge of (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 几近。
    Tā jǐ jìn bēng kuì le.
    He was on the verge of collapse.
  • 几近。
    Zhè ge jì huà jǐ jìn wán měi.
    This plan is nearly perfect.
  • 几近。
    Tā de bìng qíng jǐ jìn hǎo zhuǎn.
    His condition is on the verge of improving.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

几jǐalmost
近jìnnear

“几” and “近” both point to being close to something, giving the sense of almost or on the verge.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 幾; 几 is its simplified writing.

  • 𢆶𢆶𢆶silk threads; little things
  • 戍戍shùto guard against

The traditional form 幾 puts 𢆶 (silk threads; little things) and 戍 (to guard against) together to show watching over the fine details; the simplified 几 is a later abbreviation.

Open 几 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
斤
斤jīn近jìn
Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

Open 近 →

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