How to say "recently" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 最近さいきんno-adjective, adverbCovers every sense of 'recently', from a single recent occasion to the ongoing 'lately, these days' sense. It is the neutral default and the safest pick when you are unsure which word fits.
- この間このあいだnoun, adverbReally means 'the other day': it points to one specific, usually recent occasion in the past. For the general 'lately, these days' sense of 'recently' it is seldom the word you want.
- 昨今さっこんnoun, adverbMeans 'these days, nowadays': it takes in the recent period as a whole — how conditions in society stand — rather than any one recent event or personal occasion.
- 近頃ちかごろadverb, no-adjectiveA close synonym of 最近 for the 'lately, these days' sense, with a slightly softer, more personal feel — remarking on how things have been lately, for you or around you.
- 先ごろさきごろnoun, adverbPoints to a specific recent occasion — 'the other day', 'a short while ago' — not to an ongoing 'these days' state. Typical in news reports referring to something that happened a little earlier.
Choose 最近 as the default for any sense of 'recently'; 近頃 is a close synonym for 'lately'; 「この間」 and 「先ごろ」 point to one specific recent occasion, while 昨今 means 'these days' for the recent period as a whole.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 最近さいきんrecently
- この間このあいだthe other day
- 昨今さっこんthese days
- 近頃ちかごろlately
- 先頃さきごろrecently
- 近来きんらいrecently
- 今般こんぱんnow
- 先だってせんだってthe other day
- 過日かじつthe other day
- 今日この頃きょうこのごろthese days
- この頃このごろthese days
- 先にさきにpreviously
- この前このまえthe other day
- 先度せんどrecently
- 近時きんじrecently
- 頃日けいじつrecently
- ここんとこrecently
- こないだthe other day
- 過般かはんsome time ago
- このところlately
- このほどthe other day
- この節このせつthese days
- 輓近ばんきんlately
- 今度こんどrecently
- 今日きょうthese days
- 先立ってさきだってthe other day
- ここに来てここにきてrecently
- 今日たこんにったthese days
See also
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