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March 24, 2026
今天jīntiān(jin1tian1)
今天 (jīn tiān) means 'today' and is used to refer to the current day. It is commonly used in conversations related to plans, events, or activities happening on the present day.
Strokes8Frequency#174DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'today' emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and making the most of the present, which is often reflected in proverbs and sayings.
Memory Tip
Imagine you are standing on a calendar, and above you, the sun is shining brightly, symbolizing 'today'. The character '今' looks like a person with arms raised in the present moment, while '天' represents the sky, reinforcing the idea of the current day.
Meanings of 今天
jīntiān(jin1tian1)
1today
2at the present
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About 今天
今天Simplified
8Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#174Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 今天
Podcast: 今天
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AI Study Notes for 今天
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 今天 with 明天 (míng tiān, 'tomorrow') or 昨天 (zuó tiān, 'yesterday'). It's important to use 今天 when discussing events that occur on the present day. The tone should be pronounced clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 今天 connects to other basic time-related words like 明天 and 昨天. Students should practice using today in sentences to build fluency in everyday discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 今天 when they mean to say 明天, such as saying '今天我去工作' (jīn tiān wǒ qù gōngzuò) when they actually mean 'tomorrow'. Always remember to check the context of your sentence.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 今天
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How Well Do You Know 今天?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 今天 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
今天 (jīn tiān) means 'today' and is used to refer to the current day. It is commonly used in conversations related to plans, events, or activities happening on the present day.
When to use 今天
Learners often confuse 今天 with 明天 (míng tiān, 'tomorrow') or 昨天 (zuó tiān, 'yesterday'). It's important to use 今天 when discussing events that occur on the present day. The tone should be pronounced clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 今天 when they mean to say 明天, such as saying '今天我去工作' (jīn tiān wǒ qù gōngzuò) when they actually mean 'tomorrow'. Always remember to check the context of your sentence.
Write 今天
今
天
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Grammar Patterns of 今天
今天 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
