(zuì jìn) - recently, lately; the nearest in Mandarin
zuìjìnTraditional: 最近
Translation
recently, lately; the nearest
Word origin
A two-character compound meaning recently or the nearest. 最 (zuì) is the superlative marker meaning most, and 近 (jìn) means near or close; the literal sense is the most near, applied to both time (recently) and space (the nearest). 近 is a phono-semantic compound of the 辶 (walking) radical with 斤 (jīn) as the phonetic.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 最 (zuì, most) + 近 (jìn, near; 辶 walk + 斤 phonetic)
Stroke order
最
近
Examples
？
How have you been lately?
。
The weather has changed a lot recently.
？
Where is the nearest supermarket?
词。
Recently I have learnt many new words.
。
He moved to Shanghai recently.
最近 (zuì jìn) has two related meanings. In time it means recently or lately, referring to the recent past or near future (最近的事, recent events; 最近你好吗, how have you been lately). In space it means the nearest (最近的地铁站, the nearest metro station). Context makes the meaning clear. The time meaning is far more common in everyday speech.
Used in
Stories
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