Translation guide
The English word "near" covers physical proximity, temporal closeness, approximate amounts, and near-future events. Japanese uses different words and grammar depending on the meaning. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners.
Describing that something is close in space or distance.
The most common adjective for physical closeness. Used for objects, places, and people.
駅はここから近いです。
The station is near here.
彼の家は学校に近い。
His house is near the school.
A noun phrase meaning "near (something)". Used with a location noun.
駅の近くに住んでいます。
I live near the station.
公園の近くで会いましょう。
Let's meet near the park.
Means "near" or "by the side of". Slightly more intimate or immediate than 近く.
私のそばにいてください。
Please stay near me.
コンビニは駅のそばにあります。
The convenience store is near the station.
A formal noun meaning "vicinity" or "neighborhood". Often used in written or official contexts.
この付近に郵便局はありますか。
Is there a post office near here?
Describing that an event or time is soon or approaching.
Also used for time. Indicates that a future event is not far off.
夏休みが近い。
Summer vacation is near.
試験が近いので、勉強しなければ。
The exam is near, so I have to study.
An adverb meaning "soon" or "before long". Very common in spoken Japanese.
Means "imminent" or "just around the corner". Often used for events.
Indicating that a number, amount, or state is close to a certain value.
Attached to a number or amount to mean "nearly" or "close to".
100人近くの人が集まった。
Nearly 100 people gathered.
完成まで3時間近くかかった。
It took nearly three hours to finish.
An adverb meaning "almost" or "nearly". Used with quantities or states.
仕事はほぼ終わりました。
The work is nearly finished.
A prefix meaning "approximately" or "about". Common in formal and written contexts.
約50キロの距離です。
It's a distance of about 50 kilometers.
Expressing that something is about to happen.
Grammar pattern meaning "be about to do something" or "be on the verge of".
出かけるところです。
I'm about to go out.
電車が出るところだった。
The train was about to leave.
Used with verb stems to mean "almost did something" or "nearly happened".
Describing a close personal relationship or similarity.
Means "close" or "intimate" for relationships between people.
彼とは親しい友達です。
He is a close friend.
親しい間柄だ。
They have a close relationship.
Can also describe similarity or closeness in abstract senses.
English 'near' can be a preposition, adjective, or adverb. Japanese uses different structures. For example, 'near the station' is 駅の近く (eki no chikaku), not a single word. Avoid literal translations like 近い駅 (chikai eki) for 'near station'—it sounds unnatural.
Both mean 'near', but そば implies closer proximity, often within arm's reach or right beside. 近く is more general. そば can also feel more personal.
When using 近い for future events, it often implies a sense of urgency or anticipation. It's natural to say 試験が近い (the exam is near) but not 過去が近い (the past is near).
この近くに銀行はありますか。
Is there a bank near here?
締め切りが近い。
The deadline is near.
年末が近い。
It's near the end of the year.
もうすぐ春ですね。
Spring is near, isn't it?
もうすぐ着きます。
We'll arrive soon. (We're near arriving.)
The exam is drawing near.
ほぼ全員が賛成した。
Nearly everyone agreed.
His opinion is close to my thinking.
この色は赤に近い。
This color is near red.