近く(ちかく)

ちかく
noun
nearby, vicinity
1. nearby, vicinity, neighborhood
The area close to something or someone.
駅(えき)の近(ちか)くに住(す)んでいます。
I live near the station.
近(ちか)くの店(みせ)で買(か)い物(もの)をした。
I went shopping at a nearby store.
学校(がっこう)の近(ちか)くに新(あたら)しいコンビニができた。
A new convenience store opened near the school.
2. nearly, almost
Close to a number or amount.
3万(まん)円(えん)近(ちか)く使(つか)った。
I spent nearly 30,000 yen.
100人(にん)近(ちか)くが参加(さんか)した。
Nearly 100 people participated.
1年(ねん)近(ちか)く日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいる。
I've been living in Japan for nearly a year.
夜(よる)遅(おそ)くまで働(はたら)いて、12時(じ)近(ちか)くに家(いえ)に帰(かえ)った。
I worked until late at night and got home close to midnight.

近(ちか)く has two main uses: "nearby/vicinity" (location) and "nearly/almost" (approximate amount).

LOCATION USE:

  • 駅(えき)の近(ちか)く: near the station
  • 近(ちか)くの店(みせ): nearby shop
  • この近(ちか)く: around here

APPROXIMATION USE:

  • 100人(にん)近(ちか)く: nearly 100 people
  • 1時間(じかん)近(ちか)く: nearly an hour
  • 3万(まん)円(えん)近(ちか)く: close to 30,000 yen

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 付近(ふきん): vicinity (more formal)
  • 辺(あた)り: area, around
  • 近所(きんじょ): neighborhood
  • 近(ちか)い: near (adjective)

NOTE:
近(ちか)く can modify nouns with の: 近(ちか)くの + noun.

general
Added 2026.1.8 21:32 · Revised 2026.2.18 8:50
01000/01462_chikaku