最近

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 最近, read さいきん, denotes the near past or a recent period relative to the present.
• Basic usage: It marks the near past of starting a walking habit and not having seen someone for a while.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A recent period relative to now
  • It denotes a span of the near past relative to now rather than one exact date.