接近 (jiē jìn) is a verb meaning 'to approach' or 'to get close to' — either physically, temporally, or figuratively. The first character 接 (jiē) means 'to receive' or 'to connect', and the second 近 (jìn) means 'near' or 'close'. Together, they express the action of moving toward proximity — not yet arriving, but drawing nearer. It’s commonly used in contexts like approaching a destination, nearing a deadline, or becoming similar in quality or opinion.

This word often appears in formal writing and spoken Chinese when describing gradual movement or change — for example, describing how a person’s views come closer to another’s, or how temperature rises toward boiling point. Unlike the simple verb 靠近 (kào jìn), which emphasizes physical closeness, 接近 carries a slightly more abstract or measured sense — it implies progression toward a threshold or standard, and frequently appears with time expressions (e.g., 接近中午) or comparative structures (e.g., 接近完美).