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接近 (jiē jìn) — to approach, to get close to

Definition

接近 covers both space and time ('the deadline is approaching', 'close to the answer'). More neutral than 靠近 (just physical nearness) and less threatening than 逼近 (closing in on a danger).

verb
to approachto get close to

Examples

  • 接近。
    Tā de chéng jì yǐ jīng jiē jìn mǎn fēn le.
    His score is already close to a perfect score.
  • 接近。
    Wǒ men zhèng zài jiē jìn mù dì dì.
    We are approaching our destination.
  • 接近，。
    Chūn jié jiē jìn le, dà jiā dōu zài zhǔn bèi guò nián.
    Spring Festival is approaching, and everyone is preparing for the New Year.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

接jiējoin/touch
近jìnnear

接 gives touching or joining, and 近 gives nearness, building the idea of getting close to.

Characters in this word

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
妾
妾qiè接jiē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, matching the sense of receiving something in the hand, while 妾 gives the character its sound.

Open 接 →

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 →
Appears in
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