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N5

Kanji 今: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 今: now

Key takeaways

Kanji 今: now. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

now

On reading

コンキン

Kun reading

いま

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 今

now

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

人 + 一

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine a person (人) staying in this one (一) single moment. It represents 'now' or the current point in time.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

コン
  • 今日はこんにちは

    hello / good day

  • 今晩はこんばんは

    good evening

  • 今回こんかい

    this time / now

  • 今後こんご

    from now on / hereafter

  • 今日こんにち

    today / this day

  • 今度こんど

    now / next time

  • 今夜こんや

    tonight

  • 今月こんげつ

    this month

Kun reading

いま
  • 今更いまさら

    now / at this late stage / too late

  • 今にいまに

    before long / eventually / even now

  • 今にもいまにも

    at any moment / very soon

  • いま

    now / at the present time

Commonly used words

  • 今日は
    こんにちは

    hello / good day

  • 今晩は
    こんばんは

    good evening

  • 今回
    こんかい

    this time / now

  • 今後
    こんご

    from now on / hereafter

  • 今日
    こんにち

    today / this day

  • 今度
    こんど

    now / next time

  • 今更
    いまさら

    now / at this late stage / too late

  • 今に
    いまに

    before long / eventually / even now

  • 今にも
    いまにも

    at any moment / very soon

  • いま

    now / at the present time

Example sentences

Example 1

いまさら謝っても遅いよ。

Translation

It's too late to apologize now.

Example 2

いまさら勉強しても間に合わない。

Translation

Even if you study now, it won't be in time.

Example 3

朝、友達にこんにちはと言いました。

Translation

In the morning, I said hello to my friend.

Example 4

店に入って、こんにちはと挨拶した。

Translation

I entered the store and greeted with hello.

Kanji 今: now | Daily Nihongo