近 jìn — near; close (to); approximately
我家离学校很近。Wǒ jiā lí xué xiào hěn jìn.My home is very close to the school.
Common words: 最近 (zuì jìn)、附近 (fù jìn)、接近 (jiē jìn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "approximately"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "approximately", including 近 (jìn), 约 (yuē / yāo). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "approximately" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 近 (jìn), 约 (yuē / yāo) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jìn, yuē, yāo — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 近 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 近 jìnnear; close (to); approximatelyUseful words: 最近, 附近
- 约 yuē / yāoweigh; appointment; agreement; to arrange; to restrict; approximatelyUseful words: 大约, 节约
Common words for these 2 "approximately" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 近 (jìn) — so "approximately" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "approximately".
约 yuē / yāo — weigh; appointment; agreement; to arrange; to restrict; approximately
我和朋友约好周末见面。Wǒ hé péng you yuē hǎo zhōu mò jiàn miàn.My friend and I arranged to meet at the weekend.
Common words: 大约 (dà yuē)、节约 (jié yuē)、约会 (yuē huì)
All 2 characters
Open 近、约 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.