noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb
Refers to a place or area that is physically close. Can be used as a noun, no-adjective, or adverb.
See also: 近い
駅の近くに住んでいます。
I live near the station.
近くの店で買い物をした。
I shopped at a nearby store.
noun, used as a suffix
Used as a suffix after a quantity or time expression to mean 'approximately' or 'nearly'.
完成までに一年近くかかった。
It took nearly one year to complete.
彼は百人近くの人に話しかけた。
He spoke to close to a hundred people.
adverb
Adverbial use indicating that something will happen in the near future.
近く雨が降り出すだろう。
It will probably start raining soon.
彼は近く帰国する予定だ。
He plans to return to his country shortly.