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近況 (kinkyou) Japanese meaning: recent state | Kotomora

近きん況きょう

き

ん

きょ

う

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

recent state; current situation; latest update

Refers to the recent or current state of affairs, often used when giving or asking for an update about someone or something. Common in letters, emails, and news reports.

近きん況きょうを教おしえてください。

Please tell me how you've been lately.

彼かれの近きん況きょうは新しん聞ぶんで知しった。

I learned about his recent situation from the newspaper.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉に近きん況きょうを報ほう告こくするto give someone an update on how one is doing
久ひさしぶりに恩おん師しに近きん況きょうを報ほう告こくした。
I gave my old teacher an update on how I've been doing, after a long time.
〈人ひと〉の近きん況きょうを尋たずねるto ask after someone's recent situation
手て紙がみで友ゆう人じんの近きん況きょうを尋たずねた。
I asked after my friend's recent situation in a letter.
近きん況きょうを知しらせるto let someone know how one has been doing
メールで近きん況きょうを知しらせることにした。
I decided to let them know how I've been doing by email.
近きん況きょうを伝つたえるto convey/pass along an update about oneself
年ねん賀が状じょうで近きん況きょうを伝つたえるようにしている。
I make a point of sharing my recent news in New Year's cards.

Kanji

近near, early, akin
況condition, situation

Related words

現げん状じょうN3
現状 emphasizes the present state as it is now, often with a nuance of a situation that may need to be addressed, while 近況 focuses on recent developments or updates in a personal or narrative context.
状じょう況きょうN3
状況 is a broader term for circumstances that isn't necessarily recent, whereas 近況 specifically refers to the recent or current state, often implying a change or update.
消しょう息そくN1
消息 is news or word about a person's whereabouts and well-being, often after a period of silence, while 近況 is a more neutral update on one's recent situation exchanged in everyday communication.

Don't confuse with

現げん況きょう
現況 means the present condition and overlaps with 近況 in meaning, but it stresses the current state itself rather than the 'recent change or update' nuance carried by 近況.
概がい況きょう
近況 means one's own recent personal news or updates, while 概況 refers to a general overview of a broader situation (e.g. economy, weather).
近きん所じょN4
近況 (きんきょう) means 'recent situation/how one has been doing' and is easily confused by sound with 近所 (きんじょ), which means 'neighborhood.'

Word family

近きん況きょう報ほう告こく
exchange of recent news; catch-up; life update

Etymology

Compound of 近 (きん, 'near, recent') and 況 (きょう, 'condition, situation'). The reading is on'yomi. The word has been used in Japanese since at least the Meiji period to refer to recent circumstances.