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March 24, 2026
今jīn(jin1)
今 (jīn) primarily means 'today' or 'now.' It is commonly used to refer to the present time or current day, and can also imply modernity or the current state of affairs. In conversational and written Chinese, it often appears in contexts discussing plans, events, or situations occurring in the immediate timeframe.
Strokes4Radical人Frequency#1812DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'today' often emphasizes seizing the moment, reflecting a broader philosophical view of living in the present. Festivals and significant events are often centered around the current day, highlighting its importance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a clock striking noon, indicating 'now.' The character 今 looks like a person (the top horizontal line) standing on a platform (the bottom horizontal line), symbolizing standing in the present moment. Remember 'jīn' sounds like 'gin,' and think of enjoying a refreshing gin and tonic right now.
Meanings of 今
jīn(jin1)
1today
2modern
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About 今
今Simplified
4Strokes
人Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1812Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 今
Podcast: 今
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AI Study Notes for 今
Quick Contrast
今天 (jīntiān) vs 现在 (xiànzài) — use 今 for a more concise reference to 'today' or 'now' without additional context.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 今 with other time-related words like 昨 (zuó, yesterday) and 明 (míng, tomorrow). Use 今 primarily in informal contexts, though it is also acceptable in formal speech. Be cautious with tones; the correct pronunciation is with a high level tone (jīn).
HSK Study Tips
今 is relevant for HSK Level 1 learners as it relates to basic time expressions. Students should focus on using it in sentences to discuss daily activities or plans. It connects with other basic vocabulary related to time, like 明 and 昨.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 今 to refer to future events, such as saying '我明天去' (wǒ míngtiān qù) incorrectly as '我今去' (wǒ jīn qù). The correct way to indicate a future action would be to use 明天 (míngtiān, tomorrow).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 今
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Pictograph of sounds coming out of the mouth. The current meaning "today" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "moan" is now written as 吟.
1The giveawayA mouth 亼 talking about things
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 今? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 今?
Decomposition of 今
IDS Structure⿱人？
今Full Character
=
人ren2
top
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 今?
How to say today in Chinese
“today” in Chinese is今jīn
今 (jīn) primarily means 'today' or 'now.' It is commonly used to refer to the present time or current day, and can also imply modernity or the current state of affairs. In conversational and written Chinese, it often appears in contexts discussing plans, events, or situations occurring in the immediate timeframe.
When to use 今
Learners often confuse 今 with other time-related words like 昨 (zuó, yesterday) and 明 (míng, tomorrow). Use 今 primarily in informal contexts, though it is also acceptable in formal speech. Be cautious with tones; the correct pronunciation is with a high level tone (jīn).
今 or something close to it
今天 (jīntiān) vs 现在 (xiànzài) — use 今 for a more concise reference to 'today' or 'now' without additional context.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 今 to refer to future events, such as saying '我明天去' (wǒ míngtiān qù) incorrectly as '我今去' (wǒ jīn qù). The correct way to indicate a future action would be to use 明天 (míngtiān, tomorrow).
Write 今
今
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Practice writing 今 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 今
今 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
