Recognise 最 in words such as 最近 and 最後. Learn the whole word together with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Read 最近 as さいきん and 最後 as さいご. 最 has 12 strokes; use the linked KanjiVG diagram to follow their order. Many kanji have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each with its word. N3 is an approximate learning level, not an official JLPT kanji list. 最も (もっとも) uses a kun reading.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
最近さいきんrecently; lately
最後さいごthe end; last
最大さいだいlargest; maximum
最ももっともmost; the most

Examples

  • 最近さいきん、駅えきの近ちかくに引ひっ越こしました。I recently moved near the station.
  • 最近さいきん、よく雨あめが降ふります。It has been raining often lately.
  • 最後さいごのページを読よんでください。Please read the last page.
  • 最後さいごに、質問しつもんをします。Finally, I will ask a question.
  • 最大さいだいの理由りゆうは時間じかんがないことです。The biggest reason is lack of time.
  • この店みせは町まちで最大さいだいです。This shop is the largest in town.
  • この公園こうえんはこの町まちで最もっとも大おおきいです。This park is the largest in this town.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

最近 means recently, not the nearest place; the word for nearest is 最寄り. Compare the shapes of 最 and 撮; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 最近 in hiragana.

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    さいきん

    最近 is read さいきん; it means recently; lately.

  2. Write the reading of 最後 in hiragana.

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    さいご

    最後 is read さいご; it means the end; last.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿大（さいだい）.

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    最

    最 completes 最大, read さいだい; it means largest; maximum.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 最 from memory, and read 最近 and 最後 aloud. Then use one in a sentence.