最近
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 3
最近 (zuìjìn) · recently
最近 (zuìjìn) means “recently; lately; nearest”. It is written with 2 characters: 最 (most) + 近 (near). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 最近 is built
The characters
最 zuì · most
What 最 is made of
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 取qǔ — to take
- 耳ěr — ear
- 二 — two strokes
- 又yòu — and
- 耳ěr — ear
Origin hint: To take place 取 under the sun 日 (that is, everywhere) (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
近 jìn · near
What 近 is made of
- 辶 — walking, moving
- 斤jīn — catty
- 厂chǎng — cliff
- 下xià — down
Origin hint: 辶 gives the meaning, 斤 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
你最近忙吗？Nǐ zuìjìn máng ma?Have you been busy lately?
我最近在学游泳。Wǒ zuìjìn zài xué yóuyǒng.I've been learning to swim recently.
Questions about 最近
What does 最近 mean?
最近 (zuìjìn) means “recently; lately; nearest”.
How do you pronounce 最近?
最近 is pronounced zuìjìn.
Which HSK level is 最近?
最近 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Related words
- 最好zuìhǎobest
- 最后zuìhòulast
- 最初zuìchūat first
- 最终zuìzhōngfinal
- 最zuìmost
- 将近jiāngjìnalmost
- 接近jiējìnto get close to
- 近期jìnqīin the near future
- 附近fùjìnnearby
- 近代jìndàimodern times
Learn 最近 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 61: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.