How to say "nearby" in Japanese

• 手前てまえJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers the area in front of you or just before where you are standing. Use it for the nearby part of a path, shelf, or route — the section closer to the observer than something further along.
  手前てまえのガラス張ばりの建物たてものは薔薇ばら園えんなんです。温室おんしつになっていて、いつも薔薇ばらを観賞かんしょうできるようになってるんですよ。↗

  The glass fronted building before you is the rose garden. It's a greenhouse so you will always be able to appreciate the roses.
• 手元てもとJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverbFor things close at hand, within arm's reach or physically with you. It suits an object you are holding, using, or have ready nearby, rather than a general place in the vicinity.
  私はいつも辞典じてんを３冊さつ手元てもとに置おいています。↗

  I always keep three dictionaries at hand.
• 間近まぢかCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes something very close, near at hand or imminent. It suggests direct, close proximity to a person, thing, or moment, often with a sense of being right up near it.
• かたわらJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbPrimarily means beside or at the side of something, and also 'besides' in the sense of 'in addition'. It is a marginal match for 'nearby' — reach for it mainly when you mean beside rather than near.
  メアリーは読書どくしょをしており、１匹ひきの猫ねこがかたわらで眠ねむっていた。↗

  Mary was reading, with a cat sleeping beside her.
• あたりJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), adverbRefers to the neighbourhood or vicinity — a loose, general area around a point rather than a specific spot. Use it when 'nearby' means somewhere around there, without precision.
  彼かれの家いえは４番ばん街がいのあたりにある。↗

  His house is somewhere about Fourth Street.

Choose 手元 for things at hand, 手前 for the space before you, 間近 for close proximity to something, 「かたわら」 for being beside something, and 「あたり」 for a general vicinity.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 手前てまえbefore oneself
• 手元てもとat hand
• 間近まぢかnear
• かたわらside
• あたり(in the) neighbourhood
• すぐそばright beside
• 側近くそばちかくnearby
• 比隣ひりんnearby
• 座下ざかnearby (one's seat)
• 程近いほどちかいnear
• 近間ちかまproximity
• 傍らにかたわらにbeside
• 直じきnearby
• 近々ちかぢかclose (by)
• すぐright (near)