新近 (xīn jìn) — recent times (time word, often used adverbially)

Definition

A formal written time word for 'recent times,' used as a noun or adverb in news and academic writing. More literary than 最近.

noun

recent times (time word, often used adverbially)

Examples

新近，。
Zài xīn jìn, kē jì fā zhǎn xùn sù.
In recent times, technology has developed rapidly.
新近。
xīn jìn De biàn huà hěn dà.
The changes of recent times are significant.
，。
Cóng xīn jìn kāi shǐ, wǒ men zhòng shì huán bǎo.
Starting from recent times, we have been placing importance on environmental protection.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

新xīnnew

近jìnrecent

新 and 近 both point to something recent, so 新近 means in recent times.

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.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

斤斤jīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

辛

辛xīn新xīn

Same sound today

The shape originally paired 斤, for chopping wood, with 辛 for sound. It was borrowed for its sound to write 新, so the chopping-wood parts are unrelated to 'new'.

Open 新 →

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

辶斤近

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