今度

• Reading: こんど
• Romaji: kondo
• Kanji breakdown: 今 (kon/ima) — now, present; 度 (do/tabi) — time, occasion
• Pronunciation: /koɴ.do/

Meaning

This time; next time; near future; one of these days. Refers to the current or upcoming occasion.

A noun and adverb with flexible time reference depending on context. With past tense: 今度は成功した (this time I succeeded). With future tense: 今度の土曜日 (this coming Saturday) or 今度遊ぼう (let's hang out sometime). The vagueness of next time makes it useful for soft commitments — 今度ね can mean we'll do it next time or serve as a polite deflection.

Examples

1. 今度の日曜日に買い物に行きましょう。 Let's go shopping this coming Sunday.
2. 今度こそ絶対に成功させたい。 This time, I absolutely want to make it work.
3. 今度いつ会えますか。 When can we meet next?

Usage Guide

Context: scheduling, conversation, promises

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 今 (kon/ima, now) + 度 (do/tabi, time/occasion). Literally means this time or this occasion. The flexibility of 度 allows it to point to both the current and next instance.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal