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

Usage

Covers the recent past up to now: anything from the last few days to the last few months, depending on context. It is not used for a single point as close as 昨日(きのう) (yesterday).

Common collocations

最近(さいきん)のニュース: 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)

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)

Compare: さっき (a little while ago)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:54 · Revised 2026.10.9 4:35

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