Meaning
今 means 'now' or 'the present time' and is one of the most fundamental time words in Chinese. It appears in many common words related to current time, like 今天 (today), 今年 (this year), and 今后 (from now on). As a standalone character, it's literary and mostly seen in compounds.
Usage
Today, 今 is rarely used alone in spoken Mandarin. Instead, it combines with other characters to form time-related compounds. In modern usage, you'll almost always see it paired with 天 (day), 年 (year), 日 (day/date), or 后 (after). In classical Chinese and formal writing, it can stand alone meaning 'now' or 'today.'
Examples
- 01今天天气很好。.The weather is very nice today.
- 02今年我打算去中国旅游。.This year I plan to travel to China.
Common collocations
- 今天today
- 今年this year
- 今后from now on, henceforth
- 古今ancient and modern, past and present
Antonyms
Origin
The oracle bone script of 今 originally depicted a cover or lid over something, suggesting the immediate present moment as opposed to past or future. Over time, it evolved to specifically mean 'now' or 'the present time.'