今いまに始はじまったことではない

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ま

に

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た

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Meanings

expression

nothing new; same as always; not the first time

Fixed expression used to dismiss something as unsurprising or typical, often with a resigned or critical tone. Literally 'it's not something that started just now'.

彼かれが遅ち刻こくするのは今いまに始はじまったことではない。
His being late is nothing new.
この問もん題だいは今いまに始はじまったことではない。ずっと前まえからある。
This problem isn't new; it's been around for a long time.

Kanji

今now
始commence, begin
事matter, thing, fact

Related words

いつものこと
Means 'the usual thing' and is more neutral; 今に始まったことではない emphasizes that the situation is not recent and has been ongoing.
今いま更さら
Means 'now (after all this time)' and often implies it's too late or pointless; 今に始まったことではない focuses on the lack of novelty.

Written forms

今いまに始はじまったことではない
Standard kanji spelling for this fixed expression.
今いまに始はじまった事ことではない
Variant using 事 instead of こと; less common but still seen.

Etymology

A fixed phrase composed of 今に (now, at this time), 始まった (started), こと (thing), and ではない (is not). The literal meaning 'it is not something that started just now' naturally extends to 'nothing new'.