近
near · early · akin · tantamount
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
surround from lower-left: walk + 斤
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.
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; 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; immediate neighborhood
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; 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; surrounding country
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
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?
Yes. 近 (near, early, akin, tantamount) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for near · kanji for early