Japanese word

今や

Pronunciation

Romajiimaya

Meaning

  • adverbnowadays

Example

今や多くの人がスマートフォンを使います。ima ya ō ku no hito ga su mā to fo n o tsuka i ma su

Nowadays, many people use smartphones.

Illustration for 今や (nowadays)

More examples

今や現金を使わずに買い物をする人も多いです。ima ya gen kin o tsuka wa zu ni ka i mono o su ru hito mo ō i de su

Nowadays, many people shop without using cash.

Core concept

Presents the current time as a new reality that differs from what was true before.

Common phrases

  • 今や当たり前ima ya a ta ri mae

    now commonplace

  • 今や常識ima ya jō shiki

    now common knowledge

  • 今や珍しくないima ya mezura shi ku na i

    not unusual nowadays

Similar words

今ima: Refers to the present moment or current situation, often in an immediate context.
近年kinnen: Refers to the past few years as a period of recent change or development.

Definition in Japanese

以前とは状況が変わり、現在ではもう。i zen to wa jō kyō ga ka wa ri gen zai de wa mō

Word origin

The expression 今や (imaya) is formed from 今 (ima, "now") and the emphatic particle や (ya), which highlights the state reached at present.

Usage tips

  • Nowadays sounds more general than now and commonly appears in statements about changing habits, technology, or society rather than a single immediate action.

Other meanings

  • nowadverb
  • by nowadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word