最近
さいきん
JLPT N5 · vocab_basicMeaning
recently, lately
Examples
最近忙しいです。
I've been busy lately.
📖 How to Use
「最近」means "recently, lately." Seeing it in full sentences helps you remember both meaning and grammar patterns.
⚠️ Teacher's Note — Common Mistakes
「最近」is read as「さいきん」— memorize it as a pair to avoid mistakes in もんだい1.
🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested
もんだい1 & もんだい2
「最近」appears in vocabulary questions (choose the correct meaning) and context questions (choose the best word).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does 「最近」mean in Japanese?+
「最近」means "recently, lately". It is a JLPT N5 vocabulary word in the "vocab_basic" category.
How do you read 「最近」?+
「最近」is read as「さいきん」.
Is 「最近」on the JLPT N5?+
Yes, 「最近」is an official JLPT N5 word. Mastering all N5 vocabulary (~800 words) is essential for passing.
Can you give an example sentence using 「最近」?+
最近忙しいです。 — I've been busy lately.
Practice 「最近」 with spaced repetition