Translation guide
Expresses that something is located near the speaker, listener, or a reference point. Japanese uses spatial adjectives, nouns, and verbs, with the choice depending on what is being described and the level of formality.
To say that something is located a short distance away, often within sight or easy reach.
An i-adjective meaning 'close' or 'near'. Used for both physical and abstract proximity. Can directly modify a noun or be used in a sentence with が/は.
駅はここから近いです。
The station is close by from here.
近い公園で遊ぼう。
Let's play at the nearby park.
A noun meaning 'nearby' or 'in the vicinity'. Often used with に to indicate location, or as 近くの + noun to mean 'a nearby ~'.
近くにコンビニがありますか。
Is there a convenience store close by?
近くのカフェで待ち合わせよう。
Let's meet at a nearby cafe.
Emphasizes very close proximity, like 'right nearby' or 'just around the corner'.
郵便局はすぐ近くです。
The post office is right close by.
Means 'close at hand' or 'within easy reach'. Often used for objects that are conveniently nearby.
手近な道具で修理した。
I repaired it with tools that were close by.
To indicate that something is near the person you are speaking to.
Literally 'close from there'. Used when the reference point is the listener's location.
そこから近いレストランを知っていますか。
Do you know a restaurant close by from there?
Polite form of 近く, often used when referring to the listener's vicinity. Common in service situations.
お近くにお住まいですか。
Do you live close by?
To describe an action happening nearby or to say that something exists in the immediate area.
Adverbial phrase meaning 'nearby' or 'in the vicinity'. Used with verbs of existence or action.
近くに座ってもいいですか。
May I sit close by?
彼は近くに住んでいます。
He lives close by.
Means 'right beside' or 'immediately nearby'. Stronger than 近くに.
すぐそばに川が流れている。
A river flows close by.
To express that an event is imminent or will happen shortly.
Also used for temporal proximity. Often used with words like 将来 (future) or うち (within a period).
近いうちにまた会いましょう。
Let's meet again sometime soon.
完成は近い。
Completion is close by.
Literary phrase meaning 'to be imminent' or 'to be just around the corner'. Used for events.
試験が間近に迫っている。
The exam is close by.
近い is an adjective and describes a state of being close. 近く is a noun meaning 'the vicinity' and is often used with particles like に or の. Use 近い to say 'X is close', and 近くに to say 'in the nearby area'.
English 'close by' often functions as an adverbial phrase. In Japanese, you usually need to choose between an adjective (近い) or a noun+particle (近くに) depending on the sentence structure. A direct word-for-word translation will sound unnatural.
近くに銀行はありますか。
Is there a bank close by?
彼女は近くに立って見ていた。
She stood close by, watching.