最近(さいきん)

さいきん
noun
recently, lately
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."

GRAMMAR 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:

  • 最近(さいきん)のニュース(にゅーす): recent news
  • 最近(さいきん)の調子(ちょうし)は?: How have you been lately?
  • ごく最近(さいきん): very recently

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 近頃(ちかごろ): lately (slightly more formal)
  • この頃(ごろ): these days (casual)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:54 · Revised 2026.2.19 11:53
00500/00881_saikin