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 "close"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "close", including 近 (jìn), 致 (zhì), 密 (mì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "close" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 近 (jìn), 致 (zhì), 密 (mì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jìn, zhì, mì — 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
- 致 zhìfine and close; to send; to devote; to deliver; to cause; to conveyUseful words: 导致, 一致
- 密 mìsecret; confidential; close; thick; denseUseful words: 秘密, 密码
Common words for these 3 "close" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 近 (jìn) — so "close" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
最近zuì jìnrecently; soon; nearest附近fù jìnnearby; neighboring; (in the) vicinity (of); neighborhood接近jiē jìnto approach; to get close to导致dǎo zhìto lead to; to create; to cause; to bring about一致yī zhìconsistent; unanimous; in agreement; together细致xì zhìdelicate; fine; careful; meticulous秘密mì mìsecret; private; confidential; clandestine密码mì mǎcipher; secret code; password; PIN亲密qīn mìintimate; close
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 3 ways to say "close".
致 zhì — fine and close; to send; to devote; to deliver; to cause; to convey
大雪导致很多航班取消。Dà xuě dǎo zhì hěn duō háng bān qǔ xiāo.The heavy snow caused many flights to be canceled.
Common words: 导致 (dǎo zhì)、一致 (yī zhì)、细致 (xì zhì)
密 mì — secret; confidential; close; thick; dense
这片树林长得很密。Zhè piàn shù lín zhǎng de hěn mì.This forest grows very densely.
Common words: 秘密 (mì mì)、密码 (mì mǎ)、亲密 (qīn mì)
All 3 characters
Open 近、致、密 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.