Usage note
“最近”用来表示时间，通常指近几天或最近一段时间。
zuì jìn lái bǎo shí jiān, tōng cháng zhǐ jìn tiān.
"最近" is used to indicate time, usually referring to recent days or a short period of time.
Context note
“最近”常用于日常对话中，比如询问或告知近况。
zuì jìn cháng yòng yú rì chánɡ huà zhōnɡ, bǐ 如 问 xún kàn qīn ɡào jìn kuàng.
"最近" is commonly used in daily conversations, such as asking or informing about recent conditions.
5 examples
妈妈最近身体怎么样？
mā ma zuì jìn shēn tǐ zěn me yàng？
Mom, how's your health recently?
最近天气不错。
zuì jìn tiān qì bú cuò。
The weather has been nice lately.
最近我学了很多新单词。
zuì jìn wǒ xué le hěn duō xīn dān cí。
I've learned many new words recently.
最近你去哪里玩了？
zuì jìn nǐ qù nǎ lǐ wán le？
Where have you gone to play recently?
最近学校放假了。
zuì jìn xué xiào fàng jià le。
The school is on holiday recently.
5 mini stories
小明最近每天早上跑步。他觉得这样做对身体有好处。
xiǎo míng zuì jìn měi tiān zǎo shàng pǎo bù。 tā jué de zhè yàng zuò duì shēn tǐ yǒu hǎo chù。
Xiao Ming runs every morning lately. He thinks it's good for his health.
妈妈最近工作很忙，但是她还是抽空陪我玩。
mā ma zuì jìn gōng zuò hěn máng， dàn shì tā hái shì chōu kōng péi wǒ wán。
Mom is very busy at work recently, but she still finds time to play with me.
最近天气变冷了，爸爸提醒我要多穿衣服。
zuì jìn tiān qì biàn lěng le， bà ba tí xǐng wǒ yào duō chuān yī fu。
The weather has gotten colder lately, and Dad reminded me to wear more clothes.
最近我学会了做蛋糕。妈妈说我很聪明。
zuì jìn wǒ xué huì le zuò dàn gāo。 mā ma shuō wǒ hěn cōng ming。
I recently learned how to make a cake. Mom said I'm smart.
最近妹妹在学校表现很好，爸爸很高兴。
zuì jìn mèi mei zài xué xiào biǎo xiàn hěn hǎo， bà ba hěn gāo xìng。
Sister has been doing well at school lately, and Dad is very happy.
Mini dialogue
最近好吗？
A
你最近好吗？
Nǐ zuìjìn hǎo ma?
How have you been recently?
B
我最近很好，谢谢！
Wǒ zuìjìn hěn hǎo, xièxie!
I've been very well recently, thank you!
最近在看什么？
A
你最近在看什么书？
Nǐ zuìjìn zài kàn shénme shū?
What book have you been reading recently?
B
我最近在看一本故事书。
Wǒ zuìjìn zài kàn yī běn gùshi shū.
I've been reading a storybook recently.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
以前
yǐqián
before; in the past
最近 means recently, 以前 means a long time ago.
related
现在
xiànzài
now; currently
最近 connects the recent past to now.
contrast
将来
jiānglái
future
最近 is about near past or near future, 将来 is about the far future.