What does the kanji 近 mean?

Memory hook

On the road (辶) it takes only one axe-stroke (斤) to get there — a short way — NEAR.

Main radical

Built from

• 斤axe 4 strokes
• 辵walk, movement 7 strokes

Stroke order · 7 strokes

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7

Common words

• 最近さいきんrecently, lately
• 近いちかいnear, close
• 近くちかくnearby, the area near

More words with this kanji

• 近所きんじょneighborhood, nearby area
• 近代きんだいmodern era
• 近視きんしnearsightedness, myopia
• 近道ちかみちshortcut; the fastest way (to a goal)
• 近頃ちかごろrecently, these days
• 付近ふきんnearby area, vicinity
• 接近せっきんapproach, drawing near
• 近々ちかぢかsoon, in the near future
• 近寄るちかよるto approach, to come near
• 近付けるちかづけるto bring closer; to let approach
• 身近みぢかclose at hand, familiar, close to oneself
• 近眼きんがんnearsightedness, myopia
• 近郊きんこうsuburbs, outskirts
• 手近てぢかclose at hand, handy, familiar