亲近

• Pinyin: qīn jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 亲 = 立 + 木 + 见 (intimate); 近 = 辶 + 斤 (near/close)

Meaning

Close; intimate. As a verb: to draw near to or cultivate closeness with someone. As an adjective: warm and emotionally close.

Describes emotional closeness in personal relationships. Also used in the phrase 亲近大自然 (connect with nature). Implies genuine affection rather than mere familiarity.

Examples

1. 多年未见的老友再次相聚，彼此倍感亲近。 When old friends who hadn’t seen each other for years reunited, they immediately felt close again.
2. 她习惯在周末到郊外亲近大自然，放松身心。 She likes to get out to the countryside on weekends to reconnect with nature and relax.
3. 孩子与祖父母朝夕相处，感情十分亲近。 The child spends every day with the grandparents, and they are very close.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, nature, daily life

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 他从小与父亲关系亲近，无话不谈。(He has been close to his father since childhood and they talk about everything.)
• 亲近大自然有助于缓解城市生活带来的压力。(Connecting with nature helps relieve the stress that comes with urban living.)

Don't Say

• 我们非常亲近地讨论了工作 — use 坦诚地交流 or 深入探讨 for frank professional dialogue; 亲近 implies personal closeness, not professional candour

Origin & History

亲 (close/intimate) + 近 (near) — being emotionally near to someone

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal