この頃・此の頃|このごろkonogoro[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverb, nounthese days; nowadays; now; at present; recently; lately
   このごろ少すこしも見みないです。↗

   I have seen nothing of him lately.

• Synonym近頃ちかごろNeutralNearly synonymous with 「この頃」 and often interchangeable, as in 「近頃の若者」; 「この頃」 is slightly more common in conversation.
• Synonym最近さいきんNeutralThe most common choice; its range can shrink to a few days back and it can cover a single recent event, as in 「最近買った本」, while 「この頃」 favors ongoing states over a period.
• Synonym昨今さっこんWrittenSame meaning as 「この頃」 but written/formal, seen mostly in news and commentary, as in 「昨今の情勢」; rare in everyday conversation.
• Synonym今時いまどきNeutralRead 「こんじ」; it stresses the present moment, the here and now, while 「この頃」 covers a period that includes the recent past.
• Synonym当世とうせいWrittenRefers to today's world, often in 「当世風」 or 「当世の若者」; leans written, while 「この頃」 covers the recent period.
• Synonym今日この頃きょうこのごろNeutralMeans these recent days, often wrapping up reflections on how things have been, as in 「寒くなった今日この頃」; more emotional than 「この頃」.
• Related現在げんざいNeutralMeans the present, either this moment or an ongoing current state, as in 「現在は東京に住んでいる」; more formal and objective than 「この頃」.
• Related現代げんだいNeutralRefers to the present age or era, as in 「現代社会」; its span can reach decades, far wider than the recent period 「この頃」 describes.
• Related今いまNeutralThe most basic word; it can mean this very moment or the present day, as in 「今の若者」, while 「この頃」 specifically covers recent times.
• Related現時点げんじてんWrittenMarks the point in time as of now, as in 「現時点では未定」; written, mostly in explanations and reports, and it never covers a period.
• Related現下げんかWrittenRefers to the current situation, as in 「現下の情勢」; written/formal, seen in official documents and commentary; everyday speech uses 「今」 or 「現在」.
• Related今時こんじNeutralRead 「こんじ」; it stresses the present moment, the here and now, while 「この頃」 covers a period that includes the recent past.
• Related刻下こっかWrittenMeans this moment, the present; extremely literary and rarely used today. Say 「今」 or 「現在」 instead; it cannot replace 「この頃」 for a period of time.
• Related今日日きょうびCasualMeans the world as it is today, often commenting on the times, as in 「今日日珍しい」; more colloquial and casual than 「この頃」.
• Related時下じかFormalRefers to the present season; a formal set phrase opening letters and official documents, as in 「時下ますますご清栄」; not used in everyday conversation.
• Related方今ほうこんWrittenMeans nowadays with a classical, archaic flavor; rarely used today. In everyday speech say 「今」 or 「この頃」.
• Related当節とうせつWrittenMeans the present day, as in 「当節の流行」, with a slightly old-fashioned tone often used to comment on the times; everyday speech prefers 「最近」 or 「この頃」.
• Related現今げんこんWrittenMeans the present day, as in 「現今の社会」; written language whose time span varies with context, while 「この頃」 fits both speech and writing for recent times.
• Relatedこの節このせつNeutralMeans these days, close to 「この頃」 in sense, but with a slightly dated tone and less common today, as in 「この節は物騒だ」.
• Related当今とうこんWrittenMeans the present day; written and somewhat old-fashioned, and it can also mean the reigning Emperor. Everyday speech uses 「現在」 or 「この頃」.
• Antonym昔むかしNeutralRefers to a period in the past, the old days, as in 「昔はよかった」; the temporal opposite of 「この頃」, which points to recent times.
• Antonym将来しょうらいNeutralMeans the future, the time ahead, as in 「将来の夢」; points in the opposite direction from 「この頃」, which looks at recent times.

For recent times, the default choices are 「この頃」 and 「最近」. In written/formal prose, 「昨今」 fits news and commentary. For the present moment use 「今」 or 「現在」, and for the present era 「現代」. The written/formal alternatives — 「現時点」「現下」「刻下」「時下」「方今」「当節」「現今」「当今」「当世」 — suit official or literary contexts, while 「今日日」 is colloquial, 「この節」 sounds slightly dated, and 「今日この頃」 adds an emotional note. The opposites are 「昔」 (the past) and 「将来」 (the future).

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

1. 最近さいきん。ちかごろ。
2. そのうち。