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今にも (いまにも) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N4 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
adverb
at any moment ; on the verge of ; just about to
Describes an imminent action or event that seems about to happen right now. Often used with verbs in the potential or non-past form, and carries a sense of urgency or expectation.
泣な
き
出だ
し
そう
な
顔かお
を
し
て
い
た
。
He had a face that looked like he was about to burst into tears.
Similar words もうすぐ もうすぐ simply means 'soon' and is neutral about timing, while 今にも emphasizes that something seems about to happen right now, often with visible signs.
今いま すぐ 今すぐ means 'right now' as an immediate action, often used in commands or requests, while 今にも describes an imminent state or event that is about to occur.
Etymology Compound of 今 (ima, 'now') + に (ni, particle) + も (mo, particle). The combination にも adds emphasis, giving the sense of 'even now' or 'at this very moment', which developed into the adverbial meaning of imminence.
