近 near

(motion) + 斤 (axe)

★★★★★

7 strokes

Onyomi

KIN

Mnemonic

If you move near my KINfolk I got an axe for you!!

Kunyomi

ちか*い	near - both physically, in time, and metaphorically, as in 'Your left boob is so stretched, it's nearly a banana.' ★★★★★
ちか＊く	close to ★★★☆☆

Jukugo

最近(さいきん)	recently ★★★★☆ 最 (most) + 近 (near) = 最近 (recently)
に近寄る(ちかよる)	get close to ★★☆☆☆ 近 (near) + 寄 (get close) = 近寄る (get close to) to get close to, to approach.(usually used in the negative, on warning signs: danger! keep out! danger! high voltage! 近寄るな!)
近所(きんじょ)	around here ★★☆☆☆ 近 (near) + 所 (area / attribute) = 近所 (around here) in this neighborhood, around here- (BOOBOO: 近所 is strictly relative to where you are standing at the time. You can't say 'Shibuya is a neighborhood in tokyo,' - in that case, you have to use MACHI(町)。)
に or が近付く(ちかづく)	get close to destination ★★☆☆☆ 1/2 KANA 近 (near) + 付 (stick to) = 近付く (get close to destination) to draw close to a physical destination or a goal.

Lookalikes

	Meaning	Hint	Radical
近	near	AXE	斤
辺	around here/around that time	SWORD	刀

He came near with an AXE,

but at that time I had a SWORD to counter-attack.

Synonyms

get close
近寄る近づく