昨今|さっこんsakkon[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, adverbthese days; nowadays; recently; lately
   昨今さっこんは災害さいがいが頻ひんぴんとあった。↗

   Recently we have had several disasters.

• Synonym近頃ちかごろNeutralCommon in everyday speech for 'lately, these days'; as an adverb it can also mean 'extremely'. 「昨今」 is more written in style.
• Synonym最近さいきんNeutralThe most versatile word for 'recently'; the span of time it covers can be long or short. Close to 「昨今」 in meaning but less written.
• Synonymこの頃このごろCasualColloquial, for 'these days', as in 「この頃忙しい」. 「昨今」 is more written.
• Synonym当世とうせいWrittenWritten style for 'the present age', as in 「当世風」. 「昨今」 leans toward a recent period.
• Synonym今日日きょうびCasualColloquial; says 'nowadays' with an exclamatory feel, as in 「今日日の若者」. 「昨今」 is more formal.
• Synonym当今とうこんWrittenWritten style for 'the present day'; can also mean the reigning Emperor. 「昨今」 refers to a recent period of time.
• Related今時いまどきCasualColloquial for 'these days', often with a critical edge, as in 「今時の子」. 「昨今」 is more written.
• Related現在げんざいNeutralNeutral word for 'now, the present', pointing mainly to the current moment, whereas 「昨今」 usually covers a recent stretch of time.
• Related現時点げんじてんWrittenWritten style for 'at the present point in time'; 「昨今」 leans toward a recent period rather than a single point.
• Related現下げんかWrittenWritten/formal for 'at present', as in 「現下の情勢」; 「昨今」 leans toward 'recently', though the two can overlap when describing current affairs.
• Related刻下こっかWrittenWritten style for 'at this moment, right now'; 「昨今」 leans more toward a recent period.
• Related時下じかWrittenWritten style, mostly in letter openings, as in 「時下ますますご清栄」; 「昨今」 is used more generally.
• Related方今ほうこんWrittenWritten and old-fashioned for 'nowadays, at present'; in daily speech say 「最近」 or 「今」.
• Related当節とうせつCasualColloquial for 'the world these days'. 「昨今」 is more written.
• Related現今げんこんWrittenWritten style for 'the present day and age'. 「昨今」 refers to a recent period of time.
• Relatedこの節このせつCasualColloquial for 'these days, lately'. 「昨今」 is more written.
• Related輓近ばんきんWrittenA rare written synonym meaning 'recently'; in everyday use say 「最近」.
• Antonym古いにしえWrittenWritten word read 「いにしえ」 for 'ancient times, the distant past'; the temporal opposite of 'recent' 「昨今」.
• Antonym往古おうこWrittenThe same word as the previous entry, also written 「往古」: the far-distant past, opposite in time to 'recent' 「昨今」.

「昨今」 is the written way to say 'recently, these days', as in 「昨今の物価高」. For everyday 'lately' use 「最近」, 「近頃」 or 「この頃」; for 'nowadays' with a critical or exclamatory tone, 「今時」 or 「今日日」. 「現在」「現時点」「現下」「刻下」 lean toward the present moment rather than a recent stretch, though in contexts like current affairs they can overlap with it; 「輓近」 is a rare written word for 'recently'. The temporal opposite is 「古」.

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

1. 近頃ちかごろ。最近さいきん。昨日今日きのうきょう。