“Near” in Japanese is 近い (ちかい), pronounced chikai.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Near or close. The place takes に or から: 駅に近い, close to the station.
Example sentences
- 駅は近いですか。えきはちかいですか。Is the station close?
- 家は学校から近いです。いえはがっこうからちかいです。My house is close to the school.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 近い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 近い ちかい | near |
| Polite present | 近いです ちかいです | is near |
| Negative | 近くないです ちかくないです | isn’t near |
| Past | 近かったです ちかかったです | was near |
| Past negative | 近くなかったです ちかくなかったです | wasn’t near |
| て-form | 近くて ちかくて | near and… |
| Adverb (く) | 近く ちかく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say near in Japanese?
Near in Japanese is 近い (ちかい), pronounced “chikai”.
How do you write near in Japanese?
It's written 近い with kanji, or ちかい in hiragana. Both are read chikai.
Is 近い on the JLPT?
Yes. 近い (chikai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.