近 means “near, close”

ちかい · chikai

Also: early, akin, tantamount

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ちかい
On'yomi (Chinese reading): キン, コン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 7 strokes

The story

Movement (辶) with an axe (斤): close enough to reach with a tool. 近い is the partner of 遠い, and together they define the traveler's world. 近所 (kinjo, neighborhood) is the intimate geography of daily life in Japan, where 近くの (chikaku no) convenience stores are never more than a short walk.

Used in 近所 (kinjo, neighborhood), 最近 (saikin, recently/nearby), and 近い (chikai, near)

近 means “near, close”

The story

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