Japanese word

今にも

Pronunciation

Romajiimanimo

Meaning

  • adverbat any moment

Example

今にも雨が降りそうです。ima ni mo ame ga fu ri sō de su

It looks like it will rain at any moment.

Illustration for 今にも (at any moment)

More examples

ろうそくの火が小さくなり、今にも消えそうです。rō so ku no hi ga chii sa ku na ri ima ni mo ki e sō de su

The candle flame has grown smaller and looks like it will go out at any moment.

Core concept

Presents an event as so close to the present that it may happen at any moment.

Common phrases

  • 今にも壊れそうima ni mo kowa re sō

    look like it will break at any moment

  • 今にも倒れそうima ni mo tao re sō

    look like it will fall at any moment

Similar words

間もなくmamonaku: Indicates that an event will happen soon.
じきにjikini: Indicates that an event will happen after only a short time.
そろそろsorosoro: Indicates that the expected time for an event is approaching.

Definition in Japanese

ある事態が今すぐにでも起こりそうなさま。a ru ji tai ga ima su gu ni de mo o ko ri sō na sa ma

Word origin

今にも (imanimo) combines 今 (ima, "now") with the particles に (ni, "at") and も (mo, "even"), giving the sense that an event may happen even now.

Usage tips

  • 今にも (imanimo) commonly occurs before そうだ (sō da) when a speaker says that rain, tears, or another event seems ready to happen.

Other meanings

  • just about toadverb

Word lists with this word