When you're learning Chinese at an A2 level, you're starting to describe things around you in more detail. This includes talking about distances.
很近 (hěn jìn) is a simple yet very useful phrase that means "very near" or "very close." It's formed by combining 很 (hěn), which means "very," and 近 (jìn), meaning "near" or "close."
You'll use this phrase frequently to talk about how close something is, whether it's a place, an object, or even a relationship. It's a fundamental adjective for expressing proximity.
Mastering this phrase will help you navigate and describe your surroundings more effectively in everyday conversations.
When we want to express that something is "very near" in Chinese, we often use the word 很近 (hěn jìn).
很 (hěn) means "very," and 近 (jìn) means "near" or "close."
It's a straightforward way to describe proximity.
When we want to say something is very near in Chinese, we use 很近 (hěn jìn). It's a straightforward phrase that you'll hear and use a lot in daily conversations.
You might be tempted to just say 近 (jìn) for 'near,' but adding 很 (hěn) here isn't just about emphasis; it's often a natural part of how Chinese adjectives are used. Think of it less as 'very' and more as a grammatical connector.
So, when you want to describe a location as being close by, remember 很近. It's concise and perfectly understood.
§ Understanding 很近 (hěn jìn)
You've learned that 很近 (hěn jìn) means 'very near'. It's a straightforward adjective you'll use a lot. But Chinese has other ways to express proximity, and knowing the nuances will make your language more natural.
- DEFINITION
- 很近 (hěn jìn): Very near; close by.
我家离学校很近。(Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.) My home is very near the school.
§ 近 (jìn): The basic form
The most basic word for 'near' or 'close' is 近 (jìn). You can use it by itself, often in comparisons or specific phrases.
这个商店离我家近吗？(Zhège shāngdiàn lí wǒ jiā jìn ma?) Is this store near my home?
When you add 很 (hěn) before 近 (jìn) to make 很近 (hěn jìn), you're intensifying the meaning, making it 'very near' or 'quite close'. In everyday speech, 很 (hěn) is often used even when not emphasizing 'very', simply because adjectives in Chinese often like to have a modifier. So, while grammatically 近 (jìn) is just 'near', practically, 很近 (hěn jìn) is a very common way to say 'it's near'.
§ 附近 (fù jìn): The vicinity, nearby area
This is where things get interesting. 附近 (fù jìn) is a noun meaning 'vicinity' or 'nearby area', and it can also function as an adverb meaning 'nearby'. You use it differently from 很近 (hěn jìn).
- DEFINITION
- 附近 (fù jìn): Nearby; in the vicinity; neighborhood.
You'd use 附近 (fù jìn) to talk about the general area around something, not necessarily the exact distance between two specific points.
As a noun:
我家附近有一个公园。(Wǒ jiā fùjìn yǒu yī gè gōngyuán.) There's a park in the vicinity of my home / near my home.
As an adverb (often after a verb):
他在银行附近工作。(Tā zài yínháng fùjìn gōngzuò.) He works nearby the bank.
§ 离 (lí) and distance phrases
You'll often see 很近 (hěn jìn) used with 离 (lí), which acts like 'from' when talking about distance. The structure is: A 离 B (很)近. (A is (very) near from B).
咖啡馆离这里很近。(Kāfēiguǎn lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn.) The coffee shop is very near from here.
§ Summary: When to use what
很近 (hěn jìn): Use this as an adjective to describe two specific things being close to each other. It directly answers 'how far is it?' with 'very near'. It's about a specific distance.
学校离车站很近。(Xuéxiào lí chēzhàn hěn jìn.) The school is very near the bus station.
近 (jìn): The base adjective 'near'. Can be used alone in questions or comparisons, but often replaced by 很近 (hěn jìn) in positive statements for natural flow.
这个地方离市中心不近。(Zhège dìfang lí shì zhōngxīn bù jìn.) This place is not near the city center.
附近 (fù jìn): Use this to talk about the general area, the surroundings, or 'in the vicinity'. It's less about exact distance and more about location within a broader area.
他住在我家附近。(Tā zhù zài wǒ jiā fùjìn.) He lives near my home / in my neighborhood.
Practice using these in different contexts. The more you use them, the more natural they'll feel. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; that's how you learn.
Beispiele nach Niveau
我家离公司很近。
My home is very near the company.
这个商店很近。
This store is very near.
学校离这里很近。
The school is very near here.
他住的地方离公园很近。
The place he lives is very near the park.
我的朋友家很近。
My friend's home is very near.
地铁站很近。
The subway station is very near.
我住的酒店离海边很近。
The hotel I live in is very near the seaside.
我们现在离终点很近。
We are very near the finish line now.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"近在眼前"
Right before one's eyes; imminent.
机会就近在眼前，你要好好把握。(The opportunity is right before your eyes, you must seize it.)
neutral"近朱者赤，近墨者黑"
One is influenced by one's companions (lit. he who touches vermilion is stained red, he who touches ink is stained black).
选择朋友要小心，毕竟近朱者赤，近墨者黑。(Be careful when choosing friends, after all, one is influenced by one's companions.)
neutral"远亲不如近邻"
A distant relative is not as helpful as a close neighbor.
遇到困难时，远亲不如近邻，邻居总是最快伸出援手。(When encountering difficulties, a distant relative is not as helpful as a close neighbor; neighbors are always the quickest to offer help.)
neutral"近水楼台先得月"
A waterside pavilion gets the moonlight first; privilege of proximity.
他在公司离领导办公室很近，真是近水楼台先得月。(He's very close to the leader's office in the company, truly a case of 'waterside pavilion gets the moonlight first'.)
neutral"切近"
Close to; pertinent.
他的发言很切近主题。(His speech was very pertinent to the topic.)
neutral"近况"
Recent situation; recent developments.
你最近的近况怎么样？(How have you been recently?)
neutral"亲近"
To be close to; intimate.
孩子们都很亲近他们的奶奶。(The children are all very close to their grandmother.)
neutral"接近"
To approach; to be close to.
我们正在接近目的地。(We are approaching our destination.)
neutral"近视"
Nearsightedness; myopia.
他有很严重的近视。(He has severe nearsightedness.)
neutral"近日"
In recent days; recently.
近日天气很好。(The weather has been good recently.)
neutralTipps
Basic use of 很近
很近 (hěn jìn) literally means very close or very near. It's a common way to describe proximity.
Using 很 with adjectives
In Chinese, 很 (hěn) is often used before adjectives even when you don't mean 'very.' It functions to smooth out the sentence, similar to how 'is' or 'are' works in English. So, 很近 often just means near.
Sentence structure for 很近
You can use it like this: [Subject] + 很近. For example, 商店很近 (Shāngdiàn hěn jìn) means The shop is near.
Comparing with other locations
To say 'near to something,' you can use [Subject] + 离 (lí) + [Location] + 很近. For example, 我家离地铁站很近 (Wǒ jiā lí dìtiě zhàn hěn jìn) means My home is near the subway station.
Asking about distance
To ask if something is near, you can say: [Subject] + 近吗? (Jìn ma?) or [Subject] + 很近吗? For example, 你的学校很近吗? (Nǐ de xuéxiào hěn jìn ma?) means Is your school near?
Opposite of 很近
The opposite of 很近 is 很远 (hěn yuǎn), meaning very far. Knowing antonyms helps in learning vocabulary faster.
Practical phrase: 远不远?
A common way to ask 'Is it far or not far?' is 远不远? (Yuǎn bù yuǎn?). This directly asks about the distance. You can answer 很近 (very near) or 不远 (not far).
Using with directions
You can combine 很近 with directions. For instance, 前面很近 (qiánmiàn hěn jìn) means It's very near straight ahead.
Common mistake: forgetting 离
A common mistake is to directly translate 'near X' without 离. Remember to use 离 when stating something is near a specific location.
Listen for native speakers
Pay attention to how native speakers use 很近 in everyday conversations. You'll notice it's used frequently for both literal and sometimes more figurative 'closeness' in terms of time or relationship, though for A2, focus on the physical proximity first.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Describing locations relative to another place.
- 我家离公司很近。
- My home is very near the company.
- 学校离地铁站很近。
- The school is very near the subway station.
Talking about the proximity of people or objects.
- 他们坐得很近。
- They are sitting very near each other.
- 我的手机离我很近。
- My phone is very near me.
Explaining that something is not far away.
- 别担心，这里离市中心很近。
- Don't worry, here is very near the city center.
- 我们住的酒店离海滩很近。
- The hotel we are staying at is very near the beach.
Giving directions or indicating proximity.
- 银行就在前面，很近。
- The bank is right ahead, very near.
- 从这里到公园很近，走几分钟就到了。
- From here to the park is very near, you'll arrive in a few minutes by walking.
Discussing the short distance of travel.
- 我们去的那家餐厅很近，不用开车。
- The restaurant we're going to is very near, no need to drive.
- 我的办公室很近，我每天都走路去。
- My office is very near, I walk there every day.
Gesprächseinstiege
"你家离你工作的地方很近吗？ (Is your home very near your workplace?)"
"你觉得你的学校离市中心很近吗？ (Do you think your school is very near the city center?)"
"你上次去旅行，住的地方离景点很近吗？ (The last time you traveled, was the place you stayed very near the attractions?)"
"你喜欢住在离公园或者商店很近的地方吗？ (Do you like living very near a park or shops?)"
"你觉得你的朋友住得离你很近吗？ (Do you think your friends live very near you?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
描述一个离你家很近的地方，你经常去那里做什么？ (Describe a place that is very near your home, what do you often do there?)
写一下你理想的家，它应该离哪些地方很近？为什么？ (Write about your ideal home, which places should it be very near? Why?)
回想一次你发现某个地方离你很近，让你感到惊喜的经历。 (Recall an experience where you were surprised to find a place was very near you.)
如果你的工作地点离家很近，你的生活会发生什么变化？ (If your workplace was very near your home, what changes would happen in your life?)
写一封邮件给朋友，告诉他们一个离你们见面地点很近的新餐厅。 (Write an email to a friend, telling them about a new restaurant that is very near your meeting place.)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYou can say 'very near' in Chinese using 很近 (hěn jìn).
Yes, 很近 (hěn jìn) is perfect for describing a short distance, like 'The supermarket is very near'.
近 (jìn) means 'near', while 很近 (hěn jìn) emphasizes 'very near' or 'quite near'. The 很 (hěn) adds a degree of intensity.
Primarily, yes. 很近 (hěn jìn) is used for physical proximity. For time, you'd use different phrases.
You can use it like this: '我家离学校很近。' (Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.) which means 'My home is very near the school.'
While grammatically possible, it's not the most natural way to express 'extremely near'. You'd typically use other adverbs like 非常近 (fēicháng jìn).
Not usually. For people being close, you'd use different terms like 关系很好 (guānxì hěn hǎo) which means 'have a good relationship' or 亲密 (qīnmì) for intimate.
很 (hěn) is a third tone, and 近 (jìn) is a fourth tone. So, it's hěn jìn.
A common phrase is '这里很近' (Zhèlǐ hěn jìn) meaning 'It's very near here', or '我家很近' (Wǒ jiā hěn jìn) meaning 'My home is very near'.
很近 (hěn jìn) is a neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal situations. It's very common in everyday conversation.
Teste dich selbst 36 Fragen
My home is very near the school.
This store is very near, you'll arrive in two minutes walking.
Excuse me, is the train station very near?
Read this aloud:
我家离公司很近。
Focus: 很近 (hěn jìn)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
公园离这里很近。
Focus: 很近 (hěn jìn)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
银行很近。
Focus: 很近 (hěn jìn)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
My home is very near the school.
This store is very near the subway station.
The place we live is very near, it only takes five minutes to walk there.
Read this aloud:
我家离公园很近。
Focus: hěn jìn
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我的办公室离你家很近吗？
Focus: hěn jìn ma
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
从这里到火车站很近。
Focus: hěn jìn
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
My house is very near the subway station.
The place I live is very near the company.
This restaurant is very near the park.
Read this aloud:
我的学校离我家很近。
Focus: hěn jìn
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他工作的商店离这里很近。
Focus: lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
银行离邮局很近吗？
Focus: Yínháng lí yóujú hěn jìn ma?
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
我们住在市中心，所以商店和餐馆都______。
The sentence implies convenience to shops and restaurants due to living in the city center, so 'very near' (很近) fits best.
从我家到地铁站______，走路五分钟就到了。
Walking five minutes indicates a short distance, making 'very near' (很近) the correct choice.
图书馆和教学楼______，方便学生借书。
Convenience for students to borrow books suggests the library and teaching building are 'very near' (很近) each other.
这家咖啡馆离我们公司______，午休时可以去那里。
Being able to go there during lunch break implies the coffee shop is 'very near' (很近) the company.
他工作的地方______他家，所以他每天骑自行车上班。
Riding a bicycle to work suggests the workplace is 'very near' (很近) his home.
听说那家新开的超市______我住的地方，周末我想去看看。
Wanting to visit on the weekend implies the new supermarket is 'very near' (很近) the speaker's residence.
The correct order is '图书馆 (library) 离 (from) 我家 (my home) 很近 (very near)', meaning 'The library is very near my home.' The structure 'A 离 B 很近' is common for expressing proximity.
The correct order is '超市 (supermarket) 到 (to) 地铁站 (subway station) 很近 (very near)', meaning 'It's very near from the supermarket to the subway station.'
The correct order is '他 (he) 工作 (work) 地点 (location) 离 (from) 公司 (company) 很近 (very near)', meaning 'His workplace is very near the company.'
The sentence is about someone being late for work.
The sentence discusses a restaurant choice.
The sentence is about neighbors who don't interact much.
Read this aloud:
由于交通便利，即使住得很近，我通常也选择乘坐公共交通工具。
Focus: 近
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他家离学校很近，所以他每天步行上学，既环保又锻炼身体。
Focus: 很近
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我们发现了一个不错的咖啡馆，离这里很近，走路五分钟就到了。
Focus: 很近
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of 很近
很近 (hěn jìn) literally means very close or very near. It's a common way to describe proximity.
Using 很 with adjectives
In Chinese, 很 (hěn) is often used before adjectives even when you don't mean 'very.' It functions to smooth out the sentence, similar to how 'is' or 'are' works in English. So, 很近 often just means near.
Sentence structure for 很近
You can use it like this: [Subject] + 很近. For example, 商店很近 (Shāngdiàn hěn jìn) means The shop is near.
Comparing with other locations
To say 'near to something,' you can use [Subject] + 离 (lí) + [Location] + 很近. For example, 我家离地铁站很近 (Wǒ jiā lí dìtiě zhàn hěn jìn) means My home is near the subway station.
Beispiel
我们学校离地铁站很近。
