近

near / close to / approximately

catty / (PRC) weight equal to 500 g / (Tw) weight equal to 600 g / (HK, Malaysia, Singapore) slightly over 604 g

to walk (side part of split character)

recent developments / current situation

for the past few years

lit. a pavilion near the water (idiom); fig. using one's proximity to the powerful to obtain favor

Near East

modern history and contemporary history

the pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first (idiom) / to benefit from intimacy with an influential person

one is judged by the company one keeps (idiom)

Kinki chihō, region of Japan around the old capital Kyōto, including Kyōto prefecture 京都府[Jing1 du1 fu3], Ōsaka prefecture 大阪府[Da4 ban3 fu3], Shiga prefecture 滋賀縣|滋贺县[Zi1 he4 xian4], Nara prefecture 奈良縣|奈良县[Nai4 liang2 xian4], Mi'e prefecture 三重縣|三重县[San1 chong2 xian4], Wakayama prefecture 和歌山縣|和歌山县[He2 ge1 shan1 xian4], Hyōgo prefecture 兵庫縣|兵库县[Bing1 ku4 xian4]

in recent years

Kinta valley and river in Perak, Malaysia

Kinta River in Perak, Malaysia

perihelion, the nearest point of a planet in elliptic orbit to the sun / lower apsis

those who handle cinnabar are stained red; those who work with ink are stained black (idiom) / you are the product of your environment