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至今 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
至今zhìjīnso farHSK 5, d, 10 strokes, rank #4343, Hard
至今zhìjīnto this dayHSK 5, d, 10 strokes, rank #4343, Hard
至今zhìjīnuntil nowHSK 5, d, 10 strokes, rank #4343, Hard
zhìjīn(zhi4jin1)zhi jin T4
  1. 1so far
  2. 2to this day
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

至今zhìjīn(zhi4jin1)

至今 (zhì jīn) means 'until now' or 'to this day', referring to a point in time that extends from the past to the present. It is commonly used to describe ongoing situations or events that have not changed over time, often indicating a sense of continuity or relevance.

Strokes10Frequency#4343DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of time in Chinese culture often emphasizes continuity and the importance of historical context. Using 至今 can reflect a respect for tradition and the ongoing relevance of past events in the present.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clock that has not moved since a significant event occurred. The hands are stuck at that moment, symbolizing '至 (zhì)' as 'to' and '今 (jīn)' as 'now'. Visualize this clock as a reminder that something is still true or relevant up to this very moment.

Meanings of 至今

zhìjīn(zhi4jin1)
1so far
2to this day
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 至今

至今Simplified
10Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#4343Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 至今

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Podcast: 至今

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AI Study Notes for 至今

Quick Contrast

至今 (zhìjīn) vs 直到 (zhídào) — use 至今 for emphasis on ongoing relevance from the past, while 直到 focuses on a specific endpoint.

Usage Notes

Be cautious about using 至今 in formal contexts, as it may sound slightly informal. It is often paired with time-related phrases, such as '至今没有' (until now, there hasn't been...). Avoid confusing it with similar terms like '从来' (cóng lái), which suggests a more absolute past.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 至今 connects well with other temporal expressions like 以前 (yǐ qián, 'before') and 现在 (xiàn zài, 'now'). Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe experiences or ongoing situations to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 至今 with 目前 (mù qián, 'currently'), leading to sentences like '我目前还没完成' (wǒ mù qián hái méi wán chéng) when they mean to express something ongoing from the past. The correct phrase would be '我至今还没完成' (wǒ zhì jīn hái méi wán chéng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 至今

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Component Characters

至zhìto arrive
HSK 56 strokes至
View full entry
今jīntoday
HSK 14 strokes人
View full entry

How to say so far in Chinese

“so far” in Chinese is至今zhìjīn

至今 (zhì jīn) means 'until now' or 'to this day', referring to a point in time that extends from the past to the present. It is commonly used to describe ongoing situations or events that have not changed over time, often indicating a sense of continuity or relevance.

When to use 至今

Be cautious about using 至今 in formal contexts, as it may sound slightly informal. It is often paired with time-related phrases, such as '至今没有' (until now, there hasn't been...). Avoid confusing it with similar terms like '从来' (cóng lái), which suggests a more absolute past.

至今 or something close to it

至今 (zhìjīn) vs 直到 (zhídào) — use 至今 for emphasis on ongoing relevance from the past, while 直到 focuses on a specific endpoint.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 至今 with 目前 (mù qián, 'currently'), leading to sentences like '我目前还没完成' (wǒ mù qián hái méi wán chéng) when they mean to express something ongoing from the past. The correct phrase would be '我至今还没完成' (wǒ zhì jīn hái méi wán chéng).

Write 至今

至
今

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Grammar Patterns of 至今

至今 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他____还未和我联系。

He still has not contacted me to this day.

Example Sentences for 至今 (3)

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1
至今尚不清楚他究竟是饮弹自杀还是被谋杀。

zhì jīn shàng bù qīng chǔ tā jiū jìng shì yǐn dàn zì shā huán shì bèi móu shā。

To this day, it's unclear whether he shot himself or was murdered.
2
我知道你研究黑猩猩至今已有30年了。

wǒ zhī dào nǐ yán jiū hēi xīng xīng zhì jīn yǐ yǒu30 30 nián。

I know that you'vebeen studying chimpanzees for thirty years now.
3
那棵百年老树至今还长得好好儿的.

nà kē bǎi nián lǎo shù zhì jīn huán cháng dé hǎo hǎo ér de.

That hundred - year - old tree is still growing well.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 至今

Yes, 至今 is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, though it may be more common in informal conversation.

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