近隣

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 近隣, read きんりん, means the nearby area or neighboring places.
• Basic usage: In 火事を知らせるため近隣の家を一軒ずつ回った。, the speaker goes from house to house nearby to warn people about a fire.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The area and its residents
  • 近隣の家 refers to nearby houses, and 近隣住民 to the people living in that area. The word groups the surrounding area relevant to a notice or explanation, beyond just one immediately adjacent house.