近 (jìn) — near; close (in distance or time)

近 (jìn) is the basic word for 'near' in distance or time. Don't confuse with 紧 (jǐn), which means 'tight' — they sound similar but are unrelated.

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

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