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.”
最近、朝早く目が覚める。
Recently, I have been waking up early.
最近のニュースをチェックした。
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.
幾何では、曲線上で点Pに最も近い点を最近点という。
In geometry, the point on a curve closest to point P is called a closest point.
I've recently started getting up early.
I haven't been watching the recent news much.
I've been so busy lately that I do nothing but overtime.
I recently started jogging.
最近 is a more general and common word for 'recently' or 'lately', while 今日この頃 is a set phrase with a slightly more reflective or literary nuance.
最近 simply means 'recently' up to now, while 今時 emphasizes the present era as distinct from the past, often with judgment.
最近 means 'recently' over a broader recent period, whereas この間 often points to a single particular recent occasion.
最近 is the everyday, broad word for 'recently', while 月頃 is a more literary term tied to a stretch of months.
最近 covers a broader, less precise recent period (weeks or months) whereas 先日 points to one specific day within the last week or so.
recent activity