最近
Meanings
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb
recently; lately; these days; recent
Refers to a recent period up to the present. As an adverb it means “recently/lately/these days”; with の, as in 最近の, it means “recent” or “current.” It usually means the surrounding recent period, not necessarily the exact instant “right now.”
Recently, I have been waking up early.
I checked the recent news.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
nearest; closest
Limited use for physical or abstract closeness, especially in technical or fixed compounds such as 最近点 or 最近傍. For everyday “nearest station/shop,” 最寄り is usually the more natural word.
In geometry, the point on a curve closest to point P is called a closest point.
Usage patterns
- 最近〈動詞〉ようになったhave recently started to (do something)
I've recently started getting up early.
- 最近の〈事〉recent (news, trends, events, etc.)
I haven't been watching the recent news much.
- 最近〈動詞〉ばかりだhave been doing nothing but (something) lately
I've been so busy lately that I do nothing but overtime.
- 最近〈動詞〉し始めたrecently started doing (something)
I recently started jogging.
Expressions
- 最近になってonly recently; just lately