Japanese Conversation · Level 4
86 words
Japanese word
今
Pronunciation
Romajiima
Meaning
- adverbnow
Example
今、行きます。ima i ki ma su
I will go now.
More examples
今、本を読んでいます。ima hon o yo n de i ma su
I am reading a book now.
今も雨が降っています。ima mo ame ga fu tte i ma su
It is still raining.
Core concept
Places an action or event at the time that is current relative to the situation being described.
Common phrases
今はima wa
now
今からima ka ra
from now on
今すぐima su gu
right now
今までima ma de
until now
今もima mo
still
Similar words
現在genzai: At the present time, often in formal or factual statements.
今頃imagoro: Around the present time, often with a sense of wondering about the timing.
これからkorekara: From the present moment into the near future.
Definition in Japanese
話している時点、または基準となる時点で。hana shi te i ru ji ten ma ta wa ki jun to na ru ji ten de
Word origin
今 (ima) is a native Japanese word rather than a later borrowing, and its use for the current time is recorded from early Japanese.
Usage tips
- English now can refer to the present moment or a change from this point onward, while 今 (ima) most directly marks the current time in Japanese.
Other meanings
- just nowadverb
- soonadverb
- the presentnoun
Opposites
- 以前izenpreviouslyadverb