近所
Meaning in Englishneighborhood, vicinity
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
近所 (kinjo) means the neighborhood: the nearby area or immediate surroundings of a home, workplace, or other familiar base; it refers to the local streets, houses, shops, and people that are close to where someone lives or spends time.
Main meanings
- 1. the group of people living near you (neighbors) distinct from the generic community sense
- 2. nearby shops, services, or landmarks within walking distance rather than a distant district
- 3. a casual spatial adverbial idea meaning 'close by' when describing distance in everyday speech
How to use it
Used widely in everyday conversation to point out where something or someone is relative to one’s home; commonly heard in casual contexts but also in polite speech when referring respectfully to nearby residents; it appears when talking about local conveniences, small disputes, deliveries, or when asking about how close a location is.
Variants and close terms
- 近く (chikaku) — nearby, close at hand
- 付近 (fukin) — vicinity, the surrounding area (slightly more formal)
- 町内 (chounai) — within the same town block or neighborhood association
- 隣人 (rinjin) — neighbor (a person, not the area)
- 遠方 (enpou) — far away (antonym)
Composition
- 近 (kin): near, close — indicates proximity.
- 所 (jo): place, location — denotes a spot or area.
Origin
The concept of a close-knit local area has long roots in Japan: during the Edo period urban life was organized into closely managed town blocks and neighborhood associations, evolving into modern neighborhood units and civic groups that shaped how the term for nearby place was used socially and administratively.
Word class
noun (名詞)