Usage note
“近”用来表示距离上的接近，可以指空间或时间上的。
jìn lái bǎo shì jù chǐ shàng de jìn jìn, kě yǐ zhǐ kōng jiān huò shí jiān shàng de.
"近" is used to indicate closeness in terms of distance, which can refer to both spatial and temporal contexts.
Context note
“近”常用于描述位置或时间上的接近，比如“近处的公园”，“近来天气变冷”。
jìn cháng yòng yú miáo huì wèi zhī huò shí jiān shàng de jìn jìn, bǐ rú “jìn chù de gōng yuán”, “jìn lái qì tǐ biàn lěng”.
"近" is commonly used to describe closeness in terms of location or time, such as "附近的公园" (nearby park) and "近来天气变冷" (recently the weather has turned cold).
5 examples
我家住在近处。
wǒ jiā zhù zài jìn chù。
We live near your house.
他最近很忙。
tā zuì jìn hěn máng。
He has been very busy recently.
公园在我们学校附近。
gōng yuán zài wǒ men xué xiào fù jìn。
The park is nearby our school.
近来天气不错。
jìn lái tiān qì bú cuò。
The weather has been nice lately.
他家住在近郊。
tā jiā zhù zài jìn jiāo。
His family lives in the suburbs near here.
5 mini stories
小明的家在公园附近，每天上学都要经过那里。
xiǎo míng de jiā zài gōng yuán fù jìn， měi tiān shàng xué dōu yào jīng guò nà lǐ。
Xiaoming's home is near the park, and he has to pass by there every day on his way to school.
妈妈说最近天气变冷了，要多穿衣服。
mā ma shuō zuì jìn tiān qì biàn lěng le， yào duō chuān yī fu。
Mom said that the weather has turned cold recently, so she told me to wear more clothes.
小红住在近处，所以每天都能和朋友一起上学。
xiǎo hóng zhù zài jìn chù， suǒ yǐ měi tiān dōu néng hé péng yǒu yì qǐ shàng xué。
Xiaohong lives nearby, so she can go to school with her friends every day.
最近他很忙，没有时间去公园玩。
zuì jìn tā hěn máng， méi yǒu shí jiān qù gōng yuán wán。
He has been very busy recently and hasn't had time to go to the park.
我们学校附近有很多好吃的餐馆。
wǒ men xué xiào fù jìn yǒu hěn duō hǎo chī de cān guǎn。
There are many good restaurants near our school.
Mini dialogue
学校很近
A
你家离学校近吗？
Nǐ jiā lí xuéxiào jìn ma?
Is your home close to the school?
B
很近，走路五分钟就到了。
Hěn jìn, zǒulù wǔ fēnzhōng jiù dào le.
Very close, just a five-minute walk.
近一点看
A
我看不清楚，可以近一点吗？
Wǒ kàn bù qīngchu, kěyǐ jìn yīdiǎn ma?
I can't see clearly, can you come closer?
B
好的，这样够近了吗？
Hǎo de, zhèyàng gòu jìn le ma?
Okay, is this close enough?
Related words and contrasts
opposite
远
yuǎn
far
近 means near; 远 means far away.