Japanese word

今更

Pronunciation

Romajiimasara

Meaning

  • adverbtoo late

Example

今更それを言っても遅いです。ima sara so re o i tte mo oso i de su

It is too late to say that now.

Illustration for 今更 (too late)

More examples

今更謝っても、許してもらえません。ima sara ayama tte mo yuru shi te mo ra e ma se n

Even if I apologize now, I will not be forgiven.

Core concept

It marks a present moment that comes after the suitable time for an action, often making the action pointless.

Common phrases

  • 今更遅いima sara oso i

    too late now

  • 今更ながらima sara na ga ra

    even at this late stage

  • 今更聞けないima sara ki ke na i

    cannot ask now

Similar words

もうmō: By this time, an action or change has already happened or is no longer possible.
もはやmohaya: At this point, something has already happened or can no longer be done.
遅まきながらosomakinagara: An action is carried out later than the proper time.

Definition in Japanese

適切な時機を過ぎた今になって。teki setsu na ji ki o su gi ta ima ni na tte

Word origin

今更 (imasara) combines 今 (ima, "now") and 更 (sara, "anew"), giving the sense of doing something anew only now and thus later than expected.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 今更 (imasara) often appears in 今更遅い (imasara osoi), which stresses that a response or change comes after its useful time.

Other meanings

  • at this pointadverb

Word lists with this word