今

• 読み: いま
• ローマ字: ima
• 漢字の分解: 今 (ima/kon) — now, present
• 発音: /i.ma/

意味

Now; the present time; just now. Refers to the current moment.

An extremely common word used both as a noun and adverb. As a noun: 今は何時ですか (What time is it now?). As an adverb: 今行きます (I'm going now). Also forms compounds like 今日 (kyou, today), 今週 (konshuu, this week), and 今年 (kotoshi, this year). Can also mean 'just now' in past contexts.

例文

1. 今、何時ですか。
2. 今から出かけます。
3. 今は忙しいです。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily conversation, asking time, immediate plans

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

The kanji 今 is thought to depict a lid covering something, suggesting 'the present moment' — what is happening right under this cover of time.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal