最近(さいきん)

さいきん
noun
recently, lately
time-general
See also: 細菌(さいきん) (bacteria (homophone))
1. recently, lately, these days
Refers to the recent past, from a few days to several weeks ago, up to the present. Can function as a noun or adverb.
最近(さいきん)、忙(いそが)しいです。
I've been busy recently.
最近(さいきん)、映画(えいが)を見(み)ましたか。
Have you seen any movies lately?
最近(さいきん)の天気(てんき)はどうですか。
How's the weather been lately?
Used as noun modifier with の
最近(さいきん)、新(あたら)しい友達(ともだち)ができました。
I made a new friend recently.
最近(さいきん)は毎日(まいにち)朝(あさ)早(はや)く起(お)きて、散歩(さんぽ)をするようにしています。
Lately I've been waking up early every morning and going for walks.

最近(さいきん) functions as both a noun and adverb meaning "recently" or "lately."

Common patterns

  • 最近(さいきん)、～ (adverb): Recently, ~
  • 最近(さいきん)の + noun: recent ~
  • 最近(さいきん)は: these days, lately

Time scope

Covers the recent past - from a few days to several weeks. More recent than 以前(いぜん) (before) but broader than 昨日(きのう) (yesterday).

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 近頃(ちかごろ) (literary/reflective synonym)
Synonym: この頃(ごろ) (near-synonym: 'these days, lately')
Compare: 昨今(さっこん) (nowadays, these days, recently)
Compare: この前(まえ) (the other day)
Compare: 今日(きょう)このごろ (these days)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:54 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
00500/00881_saikin