最近 zuì jìn
“recently; soon; nearest”
time wordHSK 3 · 2021 list level 2
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
最近 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 998: 最近 zuìjìn — Level 3; official annotation 3 (名). PDF page 104
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 最近
最近 means “recently” or “lately” and talks about a recent period leading up to now. It usually comes before the subject or after it, before the verb or adjective phrase: (Subject) + 最近 + verb/adjective phrase.
例句Example sentences
- 最近我很忙，没有时间看电视。zuì jìn wǒ hěn máng, méi yǒu shí jiān kàn diàn shì.Recently I've been very busy and have no time to watch TV.
- 你最近身体怎么样？nǐ zuì jìn shēn tǐ zěn me yàng?How have you been feeling recently?
- 最近天气很好，我们常去公园。zuì jìn tiān qì hěn hǎo, wǒ men cháng qù gōng yuán.The weather has been very good recently, so we often go to the park.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗在最近我很忙。
✓最近我很忙。
最近 is a time word and does not need 在 before it in this pattern.