近
near · early · akin · tantamount
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of advance (辶) and axe (斤). Within reach of an axe.
Symbolism
Close, recent, intimate. Represents nearness in distance and time.
Component Breakdown
surround from lower-left: walk + 斤
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
遠交近攻
えんこうきんこう
policy of cultivating distant countries while working to conquer those nearby
近所合壁
きんじょがっぺき
immediate neighborhood; immediate neighbourhood
遠慮近憂
えんりょきんゆう
failure to think of the long term leads to grief in the short term
近郷近在
きんごうきんざい
surrounding country; neighboring villages
Proverbs & Idioms
近くて遠きは男女の仲
ちかくてとおきはだんじょのなか
Near yet far is the relationship between men and women
Romance is complicated
Anime & Manga
最近雇ったメイドが怪しい
The Maid I Hired Recently is Mysterious
A well-known work with 近 in its Japanese title.
最近、妹のようすがちょっとおかしいんだが。
Recently, My Sister Is Unusual
A well-known work with 近 in its Japanese title.
魔王様の街づくり！～最強のダンジョンは近代都市～
Dungeon Builder: The Demon King’s Labyrinth is a Modern City!
A well-known work with 近 in its Japanese title.
ご近所物語
Neighborhood Story
A well-known work with 近 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
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Chikamatsu Monzaemon , real name Sugimori Nobumori , was a Japanese dramatist of jōruri, the form of puppet theater that later came to be known as…
Wikipedia近衛天皇
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Emperor Konoe was the 76th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
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Kondō Isami was a Japanese swordsman and samurai of the late Edo period.
Wikipedia高山右近
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Justo Takayama Ukon , born Takayama Hikogorō and also known as Dom Justo Takayama was a Japanese Catholic daimyō and samurai during the Sengoku…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 近 mean in Japanese?
近 means near, early, akin, tantamount.
How do you read 近?
On'yomi: キン、コン (KIN, KON). Kun'yomi: ちか.い (chikai).
How many strokes does 近 have?
近 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 辶 (walk).
Is 近 a good kanji for a tattoo?
近 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means near, early, akin, tantamount. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.