1.
these days, nowadays
Refers to the current period of time, implying a change from before.
この頃忙しいです。
I've been busy these days.
この頃、天気が悪いですね。
The weather has been bad lately, hasn't it?
この頃どうですか。
How have things been lately?
Common greeting
この頃彼に会っていない。
I haven't seen him lately.
2.
recently, lately
Describes something that has been happening in the recent period.
この頃太ってきた。
I've been gaining weight recently.
この頃、夜よく眠れない。
I haven't been able to sleep well at night lately.
この頃日本語の勉強を始めたんです。
I recently started studying Japanese.
この頃 is a time expression meaning 'these days' or 'recently.'
Position: Usually at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
[Register: Neutral]
Writing: Often written in hiragana as このごろ.
Similar expressions:
- この頃 vs. 最近: Very similar; 最近 is slightly more versatile and can be used in more formal contexts.
- この頃 vs. この間: この間 often refers to a specific past point ('the other day'); この頃 refers to an ongoing recent period.
- この頃 vs. 近頃: 近頃 is more formal and literary.
Note: Often implies a change or contrast with how things were before.