近 — Close, Near
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 近 (Close, Near)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 近 (Close, Near)
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Near (近) expressed as an adverb.
Near (近) expressed as an i-adjective.
The close (近) place (所) to your house is your neighbourhood.
The most (最) close (近) time to right now is the latest trend or nowadays.
The era that is a close (近) substitute (代) for right now is the present day.
Frequently Asked Questions About 近 (Close, Near)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 近 (Close, Near)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 近 ("Close, Near", read as きん) is: If you get into a conflict (こん) with the cheeky ax (ちか) king (きん) on a scooter, your end may be near... Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 近 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 近 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 近 means "Close, Near". Its primary reading is きん (On'yomi: きん, こん; Kun'yomi: ちか). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 近?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 近 include: 近く (ちかく - near), 近い (ちかい - near), 近所 (きんじょ - neighbourhood), 最近 (さいきん - latest, nowadays).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 近 (Close, Near) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 近 (Close, Near) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.