Japanese word

最近

Pronunciation

Romajisaikin

Meaning

  • adverbthese days

Example

最近、日本語を勉強しています。sai kin nihon go o ben kyō shi te i ma su

These days, I am studying Japanese.

Illustration for 最近 (these days)

More examples

最近は早く寝るようにしています。sai kin wa haya ku ne ru yō ni shi te i ma su

These days, I try to go to bed early.

Core concept

Shows that an action, event, or condition belongs to the time near now, including a period that continues into the present.

Common phrases

  • 最近ではsai kin de wa

    these days

Similar words

この頃konogoro: Indicates a period around the present, especially for a continuing state or habit.
近頃chikagoro: Indicates a time not long ago, often pointing to a recent event or change.

Definition in Japanese

現在に近い過去や、その時期から現在までの期間を表す。gen zai ni chika i ka ko ya so no ji ki ka ra gen zai ma de no ki kan o arawa su

Word origin

最近 (saikin) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 最 (sai, "most") and 近 (kin, "near"), expressing the idea of the time nearest to the present.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 最近 (saikin) often appears near the beginning of a sentence to set the time frame for what follows.

Other meanings

  • recentlyadverb

Word lists with this word