最近 zuìjìn — recently, lately; these days

Meanings

1. 1

   recently, lately; these days

   The stretch of time nearest to now — 最 most, 近 near. It reaches both ways: 最近我很忙 covers the past few weeks, and 最近我要去中国 the next few. 你最近怎么样？ is one of the commonest greetings between people who already know each other.

   noun

Example sentences

• 你最近怎么样？/你最近怎麼樣？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) zuìjìn (fourth tone, falling) zěnmeyàng? (third tone, dipping)···

  How have you been lately?

• 最近我很忙，没有时间休息。/最近我很忙，沒有時間休息。Zuìjìn (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) máng, (second tone, rising) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) shíjiān (second tone, rising) xiūxi. (first tone, high and level)···

  I’ve been very busy lately, with no time to rest.

Common mistakes

• Not quite我很忙最近。

  Correct最近我很忙。

  Time words open the sentence or follow the subject; they never trail at the end. 最近我很忙 and 我最近很忙 are both right, 我很忙最近 is not.

Similar words