• 最近さいきん — recently / lately
• 近所きんじょ — neighborhood
• 近道ちかみち — shortcut
• 近視きんし — nearsightedness
• 接近せっきん — approach / getting close
• 近代きんだい — modern times
• 近年きんねん — recent years
• 近郊きんこう — suburbs / outskirts
• 至近しきん — very close / point-blank
• 最も近いもっともちかい — closest / nearest
• 近寄ちかよる — to approach / to draw near

近 is formed with 斤 (axe) and 辶 (movement), suggesting a quick or short movement. It expresses the idea of something being close — in space, time, or feeling.

It’s often paired with other kanji to describe modern life, nearby places, and recent trends.

近所きんじょに新あたらしい店みせが出来できました。
A new store opened in the neighborhood.

最近さいきん、忙いそがしくて出でかける時間じかんがありません。
Lately, I haven’t had time to go out.