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最近 (zuì jìn) — recently; lately (referring to the past); soon; in the near future (referring to the future)

Definition

The everyday word for both 'recently' and 'soon.' Unlike 近期 and 近日, which are written/formal, 最近 is the neutral spoken choice covering both past and near-future time.

noun
recentlylately (referring to the past)soonin the near future (referring to the future)

Examples

  • 最近。
    zuì jìn Tiān qì bú tài hǎo.
    The weather hasn't been good recently.
  • 最近。
    Tā zuì jìn huì lái shàng hǎi.
    He will come to Shanghai soon.
  • 最近？
    zuì jìn De yī yuàn zài nǎ lǐ?
    Where is the nearest hospital?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

最zuìmost
近jìnnear

最 means most and 近 means near, so the word points to the nearest time or place.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ最zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

Open 最 →

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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