最近
さいきん · saikin · JLPT N4 · noun
recently
📅 最近 = most (最) + near (近): the time most near to now
最 means most, as in 最高 (highest, the best). 近 means near, as in 近い (chikai, close). The time nearest to the present is the recent past. Readings are the on-yomi sai + kin.
最 — top 冃 (hat/cover) + bottom 取 (take)
Originally a compound suggesting taking something even at risk, with 冃 (a covering, often confused with 日 sun) over 取 (to seize). Over time it shifted from 'to risk taking' to the superlative meaning 'most' or 'extremely', its modern use in Chinese.
近 — 辶 (walk) + 斤 (axe, phonetic)
近 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 辶 radical signals movement or distance, while 斤 (axe) supplies the sound. Together they convey the idea of a short distance to walk, hence 'near' or 'close'.