How have you been lately?―最近(さいきん)どう?

There're a number of expressions about the near past or present perfect.

Izakaya 居酒屋 (いざかや)―Japanese-style pub will welcome you cheefully with irasshai-mase (いらっしゃいませ)!.

Kono-aida この間(あいだ) or kono-mae この前(まえ)?

Kono-aida この間(あいだ) and kono-mae この前(まえ) are felt almost the same meaning and can be used in the same context, and they’re replaceable.

The difference, however, may be the way the two expressions are composed.

First, the two expressions have kono この in common. Kono この means ‘near’ or ‘close’ about space or time. This is why the both kono-aida この間(あいだ) and kono-mae この前(まえ) are referred to the near past.

Secondly, aida 間(あいだ) was originally the interval or gap about space, and it began to be used for time later. So, kono-aida この間(あいだ) is ‘at a time between now and a near past.’

In the meantime, mae 前(まえ) means ‘front’ of space or time. So, kono-mae この前(まえ) just means a near past.

● この間(あいだ)こんな話(はなし)を聞いた(きいた)。(Kono-aida konna hanashi-o kiita.)

I got this information a little ago.

● この前(まえ)こんな話(はなし)を聞いた(きいた)。(Kono-mae konna hanashi-o kiita.)

I got this information a little ago.

The two sentences are felt just the same.

Konaida こないだ

この間(あいだ) has a short form konaida こないだ, which won’t be used in writing though.

Schloss Neuschwanstein in Germany

● こないだディズニーランドに行った(いった)よ。 (Konaida Disney-rando-ni itta-yo.)

I went to the Disneyland the other day.

銀座 (ぎんざ) Ginza is one of the tourists' destinations, especially for shopping and eating.

Mae-ni 前(まえ)に

Just Mae-ni 前(まえ)に can be used, referring to the past. However, you don’t know it’s a near past or long time ago.

● 前(まえ)に銀座(ぎんざ)へ行った(いった)。 (Mae-ni Ginza-e itta.)

I went to Ginza before.

Sakigoro 先(さき)頃(ごろ)

You can use sakigoro 先(さき)頃(ごろ) like kono-aidaこの間(あいだ) or kono-mae この前(まえ), but it sounds a little formal.

婚約式 (こんやくしき) Engagement ceremony has been not so popular lately.

● 先(さき)頃(ごろ)婚約(こんやく)致し(いたし)ました。

I got engaged the other day.

Senjitsu 先日(せんじつ)

You also have senjitsu 先日 for this meaning.

● 先日(せんじつ)先生(せんせい)から電話(でんわ)をもらいました。 (Senjitsu sensei-kara dennwa-o morai-mashita.)

The other day I got a call from my teacher.

Saikin 最近(さいきん)

Saikin 最近(さいきん) is used like この間(あいだ) and この前(まえ) as well, referring to a short ago.

● 最近(さいきん)こんな話(はなし)を聞いた(きいた)。(Saikin konna hanashi-o kiita.)

Lately I got this information.

Besides, saikin 最近(さいきん) is also used in the present or present past tense, meaning that something started in a near past and it continues or happens repeatedly now.

● 最近(さいきん)よく眠れ(ねむれ)ない。 (Saikin yoku nemure-nai.)

I can’t sleep well these days.

● 最近(さいきん)ピアノを始め(はじめ)ました。 (Saikin piano-o hajime-mashita.)

Recently I’ve begun to practice playing the piano.

● 最近(さいきん)どう？ (Saikin doo?)

How have you been lately?

Chika-goro 近ごろ(ちかごろ)

For this meaning you can also say chika-goro 近ごろ(ちかごろ).

● 近ごろ(ちかごろ)よくあの人(ひと)に会います(あいます)。 (Chika-goro ano-hito-ni yoku aimasu.)

I often happen to see him these days.

● 近ごろ(ちかごろ)あの人(ひと)を見かけ(みかけ)ません。 (Chika-goro ano-hito-o mikake-masen.)

I haven’t seen him lately.

Kono-goro このごろ

Kono-goro このごろ is used only in the present or present past tense, so, in this sense, will be used in the same way as saikin 最近(さいきん) and chika-goro 近ごろ(ちかごろ). Kono-goro このごろ can’t be used in the past tense.

● このごろ雨(あめ)ばかり降って(ふって)いる。 (Kono-goro ame-bakari hutte-iru.)

We’ve had much rain recently.

● このごろ彼女(かのじょ)は顔色(かおいろ)が悪い(わるい)。 (Kono-goro kanojo-wa kao-iro-ga warui.)

She doesn’t look so good lately.

N.B. Note that kono-goro このごろ and kono-koro このころ are not same; the latter means in the days when the writer or speaker talked about something of the past.

● 1990年(ねん)に就職(しゅうしょく)した。このころまだパソコンは普及(ふきゅう)していなかった。(Sen-kyuu-hyaku-kyuujuu-nen-ni shuushoku-shita. Kono-koro mada pasokon-wa hukyuu-shite inakatta.)

I got a job in 1990. PCs were not popular then.

Izen 以前(いぜん)

Izen 以前(いぜん) is a long time ago like ‘once’.

● 彼(かれ)は以前(いぜん)横浜(よこはま)に住んで(すんで)いた。

He once lived in Yokohama.

This is used for legal sentences as well: 4(し)月(がつ)1(つい)日(たち)以前(いぜん) means ‘on and before April 1st.’