Japanese word

現在

Pronunciation

Romajigenzai

Meaning

  • adverbnow

Example

現在、東京に住んでいます。gen zai tō kyō ni su n de i ma su

I live in Tokyo now.

Illustration for 現在 (now)

More examples

現在、雨が降っています。gen zai ame ga fu tte i ma su

It is raining now.

現在のところ、予定に変更はありません。gen zai no to ko ro yo tei ni hen kō wa a ri ma se n

For now, there are no changes to the schedule.

Core concept

Marks the time at or around the speaker's present moment, rather than a past or future time.

Common phrases

  • 現在のところgen zai no to ko ro

    for now

  • 現在までgen zai ma de

    until now

Similar words

今ima: Refers to the present time in everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

過去や未来ではなく、話している時点で。ka ko ya mi rai de wa na ku hana shi te i ru ji ten de

Word origin

現在 (genzai) combines 現 (gen, "present") and 在 (zai, "exist"), giving the sense of existing at the present time.

Usage tips

  • 現在 (genzai) is more formal than 今 (ima) in many everyday contexts, so learners often hear 今 when speakers mean "now."

Other meanings

  • the presentnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word