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March 24, 2026
近jìn(jin4)
The character 近 (jìn) means 'near' or 'close to' and is used to describe physical proximity or time-related closeness. It can also indicate intimacy or familiarity in relationships and is often used in contexts such as location, time, and personal connections.
Strokes7Radical辶Frequency#1100DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of closeness is significant in relationships, whether familial or platonic. The use of 近 in expressions reflects the value placed on maintaining close ties within the community.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'jinx' that brings two friends closer together. The character 近 has the radical for 'near' and a resemblance to 'jinx', helping you remember that it signifies closeness and intimacy.
Meanings of 近
jìn(jin4)
1near
2close to
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 近 means.
About 近
近Simplified
7Strokes
辶Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1100Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 近
Podcast: 近
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AI Study Notes for 近
Quick Contrast
近 (jìn) vs 附近 (fùjìn) — use 近 for direct proximity or closeness, while 附近 specifically refers to the nearby area.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 近, as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 近距离 (jìn jùlí, 'close distance') and 近来 (jìn lái, 'recently').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 近 connects to other basic vocabulary related to location and time. Focus on using it in sentences to describe proximity in various contexts, enhancing your spatial and temporal language skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 近 with 近乎 (jìnhū), which means 'almost' or 'nearly'. Instead of saying '他近乎到了' (He is near), the correct form would be '他快到了' (He is close to arriving).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 近
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Etymology of 近
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 斤 represents the sound.
近 = 辶 + 斤. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 近
IDS Structure⿺辶斤
近Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
斤jin1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 近?
How to say near in Chinese
“near” in Chinese is近jìn
The character 近 (jìn) means 'near' or 'close to' and is used to describe physical proximity or time-related closeness. It can also indicate intimacy or familiarity in relationships and is often used in contexts such as location, time, and personal connections.
When to use 近
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 近, as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 近距离 (jìn jùlí, 'close distance') and 近来 (jìn lái, 'recently').
近 or something close to it
近 (jìn) vs 附近 (fùjìn) — use 近 for direct proximity or closeness, while 附近 specifically refers to the nearby area.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 近 with 近乎 (jìnhū), which means 'almost' or 'nearly'. Instead of saying '他近乎到了' (He is near), the correct form would be '他快到了' (He is close to arriving).
Write 近
近
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Grammar Patterns of 近
近 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
