Japanese word

間近

Pronunciation

Romajimajika

Meaning

  • na-adjectivenear

Example

試験の日が間近です。shi ken no hi ga ma jika de su

The day of the exam is near.

Illustration for 間近 (near)

More examples

選手たちを間近で応援できます。sen shu ta chi o ma jika de ō en de ki ma su

You can cheer for the athletes up close.

Core concept

Expresses that a person, place, time, or event has very little distance from the reference point.

Common phrases

  • 間近に迫るma jika ni sema ru

    be imminent

  • 間近で見るma jika de mi ru

    see up close

  • 間近に感じるma jika ni kan ji ru

    feel close at hand

Similar words

近いchikai: Describes a person, place, time, or event that has a small amount of distance from a reference point.

Definition in Japanese

時間や空間の隔たりが小さく、すぐ近くにあるさま。ji kan ya kū kan no heda ta ri ga chii sa ku su gu chika ku ni a ru sa ma

Word origin

間近 (majika) is formed from 間 (ma, "interval") and the stem of 近い (chikai, "near"), giving the sense of little distance in time or space.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 間近 (majika) often describes an approaching event, while 近い (chikai) is more common for a nearby place.

Other meanings

  • imminentna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 間近さmajikasaproximitynoun

Word lists with this word