Japanese Conversation · Level 83
60 words
Japanese word
近頃
Pronunciation
Romajichikagoro
Meaning
- adverbrecently
Example
近頃、新しい店が増えました。chika goro atara shi i mise ga fu e ma shi ta
More new stores have opened recently.
More examples
近頃は、休日に家族と映画を見るのが楽しみです。chika goro wa kyū jitsu ni ka zoku to ei ga o mi ru no ga tano shi mi de su
These days, I enjoy watching movies with my family on my days off.
Core concept
It draws attention to a recent period as a whole, including what has been happening up to the present.
Common phrases
近頃はchika goro wa
these days
Similar words
最近saikin: It describes a time shortly before the present.
この頃konogoro: It describes the present time or its surrounding period.
このところkonotokoro: It describes the period immediately leading up to the present.
Definition in Japanese
現在に近い過去から今にかけての、ある程度の期間を表す。gen zai ni chika i ka ko ka ra ima ni ka ke te no a ru tei do no ki kan o arawa su
Word origin
近頃 (chikagoro) is a native compound of 近い (chikai, "near") and 頃 (koro, "time" or "period"), so its form refers to a nearby time period.
Usage tips
- 近頃 (chikagoro) can mean both recently and nowadays, so context determines whether the focus is on a recent change or the present period.
Other meanings
- nowadaysadverb
Opposites
- 昔mukashiin the pastadverb