Chinese word

现在

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiàn zài

Meaning

  • adverbnow

Example

现在几点？xiàn zài jí diǎn

What time is it now?

Illustration for 现在 (now)

More examples

我现在在吃饭。wǒ xiàn zài zài chī fàn

I am eating now.

Core concept

The moment of speaking, when an action or state is true.

Common phrases

  • 现在几点了xiàn zài jí diǎn le

    What time is it now

  • 现在可以吃饭吗xiàn zài ké yǐ chī fàn ma

    Can we eat now

  • 现在在家xiàn zài zài jiā

    be at home now

Similar words

今天jīn tiān: During the current day, marking the time of an event or situation.
明天míng tiān: During the next day, marking the future time of an event or situation.
昨天zuó tiān: During the previous day, marking the past time of an event or situation.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示说话时刻发生或正在进行的动作、状态或情形，等同于“此时此刻”，常作时间状语出现。yòng yú biǎo shì shuō huà shí kè fā shēng huò zhèng zài jìn xíng de dòng zuò zhuàng tài huò qíng xíng děng tóng yú cǐ shí cǐ kè cháng zuò shí jiān zhuàng yǔ chū xiàn

Word origin

现在 (xiànzài, "now") combines 现 (xiàn, "appear") and 在 (zài, "be located"), giving the idea of something existing at the moment in view.

Usage tips

  • As a time adverb, it commonly stands before the verb or adjective, so the sentence position helps mark the following action or state as current.

Other meanings

  • presentlyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word