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临近 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
临近línjìnclose toHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #12400, Very Hard
临近línjìnapproachingHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #12400, Very Hard
línjìn(lin2jin4)lin jin T2
  1. 1close to
  2. 2approaching
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March 24, 2026

临近(臨近)línjìn(lin2jin4)

临近 means 'close to' or 'approaching' in a spatial or temporal context. It is commonly used to describe physical proximity or the approach of an event, such as a deadline or holiday.

Strokes16Frequency#12400DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of approaching or being close to an important date, such as the Lunar New Year, carries significant emotional weight, often leading to preparations and celebrations.

Memory tip

Think of 临 as 'to face' (the radical resembles a person facing something), and 近 as 'near' (imagine someone leaning closer). Together, they evoke the image of someone facing something that is getting closer.

Meanings of 临近

línjìn(lin2jin4)
1close to
2approaching
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 临近

临近Simplified
臨近Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 临近

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AI study notes for 临近

Quick Contrast

接近 (jiējìn) — use 临近 when emphasizing a specific moment of closeness, while 接近 is broader and can imply a gradual approach.

Usage Notes

临近 is often used in both formal and informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 近, which simply means 'near' without the implication of approaching. Be careful with tone as mispronouncing either character can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 临近 is not an HSK word, it incorporates the HSK Level 2 character 近. Focus on using it in sentences that involve time and proximity, and practice with related words like 赶到 (arrive) or 接近 (approach).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 临近 with even more general terms like 快要 (about to). For example, saying '快要临近' is incorrect; simply use '临近' by itself to indicate something is approaching.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 临近

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Component characters

临línto face
HSK 79 strokes丨
View full entry
近jìnnear
HSK 27 strokes辶
View full entry

How to say close to in Chinese

“close to” in Chinese is临近línjìn

临近 means 'close to' or 'approaching' in a spatial or temporal context. It is commonly used to describe physical proximity or the approach of an event, such as a deadline or holiday.

When to use 临近

临近 is often used in both formal and informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 近, which simply means 'near' without the implication of approaching. Be careful with tone as mispronouncing either character can change the meaning.

临近 or something close to it

接近 (jiējìn) — use 临近 when emphasizing a specific moment of closeness, while 接近 is broader and can imply a gradual approach.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 临近 with even more general terms like 快要 (about to). For example, saying '快要临近' is incorrect; simply use '临近' by itself to indicate something is approaching.

Write 临近

临
近

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Frequently asked questions about 临近

Yes, 临近 can refer to both a time approaching, like an event, and physical proximity.

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