Usage patterns 今いま の 〈 物もの 〉 the current ~; the ~ right now
今いま すぐ 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to do something right away, this instant
今いま のところ for now; so far; at present
There are no problems so far.
Expressions· 41 今いま が 今いま just now; right now; this very moment 今いま は 昔むかし once upon a time; a long time ago 今いま ほど as (much as) now; as it is now · just now; a moment ago 今いま 一いっ 歩ぽ one more; another; the other · not quite; not completely · close run; just falling short of success Show 3 more Show fewer 今いま 現げん 在ざい right now; at this very moment; currently 今いま にして only now; now at last; now that it's come to this See all 41 in Explore →
Related words· 7 現在 is the formal, often written word for 'the present time', while 今 is the everyday word for 'now'.
今 is the plain, everyday word for 'now', while 今や adds emphasis on a striking contrast with the past.
いま is the plain, standard word for 'now', while ナウ as a suffix is casual net-slang used to announce one's current location or activity in social posts.
今 means the exact present moment, while 今頃 refers more loosely to around this time, often with a nuance of guessing or contrast.
Show 3 more Show fewer いま is the plain, everyday word for 'now', while ただいま is the more formal or polite equivalent used in announcements and service settings.
今 is the everyday, all-purpose word for 'now', whereas 目下 is stiffer and typically confined to formal writing.
今 is the neutral word for 'now', while たった今 adds emphasis that the action happened only moments before speaking.
Opposites 今 refers to the present moment while 昔 refers to a bygone time in the past.
今 means 'now, the present,' the direct time-contrast to 後々 , which points to a later, future stage.
元は describes how something used to be, while 今 describes how it is now, often contrasted together (元は貧しかったが、今は金持ちだ ).
Don't confuse with 今 simply means 'now', whereas 今頃 means 'around this time' and often carries a nuance of lateness or coincidence.
今 is neutral 'now', while 今更 means 'now, after all this time' and implies it's too late to matter.
Word family· 45 now (when it's too late); at this late stage · afresh; anew; again
now; now at last; at present
about this time; around now
I'm home!; I'm back! · now; at present; currently · just now; a moment ago · right away; shortly; soon
not quite right; not very good; somewhat lacking
Show 20 more Show fewer these days; nowadays; modern times · at this time of day; at this hour
just now; a moment ago; this very minute
at any moment; on the verge of; just about to
one more; another one · not quite; not entirely; somewhat lacking
modern; contemporary; trendy; up-to-date
newly born imperial prince · newly constructed branch shrine
before long; soon; eventually
a moment ago; just now
one's last moments; hour of death
modern style; contemporary style; current fashion · imayō (Heian–Kamakura verse form)
until now; so far; up to now
the present as a privileged moment in eternity
current; hip; trendy; fashionable; stylish
still; even now
right now; this very moment
current boyfriend
a moment ago; just now
from now; from this moment; henceforth
now is the time; this is the moment
now; at this moment
See all 45 in Explore →
Written forms 今いま Usage 73%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
いま Usage 27%
Kana spelling is common in informal writing and when the kanji is not needed.
イマ Usage <1%
Etymology Native Japanese word. The kanji 今 is a pictograph representing the present moment, but the reading いま is not derived from Chinese.
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