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What is the Kanji for 'Now'? | 今

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Now', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Now' is 今.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Now

    Reading

    kunyomiいま

    ima

    onyomiこん

    kon

    Parts

    Person One Katakana fu

    Example Word

    今にも: soon or any moment. The Japanese adverb '今にも (いまにも)' is used to indicate that something is about to happen very soon or at any moment. It often carries a sense of urgency or immediacy. This word is commonly used in situations where an event is on the verge of occurring, such as rain about to fall or someone about to cry. For example: It looks like it's going to rain soon「今にも雨が降りそうだ」(いまにもあめがふりそうだ). She looks like she's about to cry any moment「彼女は今にも泣き出しそうだ」(かのじょはいまにもなきだしそうだ). The adverb is often paired with verbs or expressions that suggest something is imminent.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    4

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    35

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    Meaning

    One

    radical

    Meaning

    Katakana fu

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 5 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thought

    kanji

    Meaning

    Contain, Include

    kanji

    Meaning

    Recite, Recital

    kanji

    Meaning

    Koto, Harp

    kanji

    Meaning

    Indulge in, Covet

Words Using

This kanji is used in 16 words:

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 19 kanji contain the part 人 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Big

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fire

    kanji

    Meaning

    Inside

    kanji

    Meaning

    Valley

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eat, Food

    kanji

    Meaning

    Meat

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tea

    kanji

    Meaning

    Meet

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fit, Match

    kanji

    Meaning

    Graduate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Man, Husband

    kanji

    Meaning

    Decorate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Some, How many

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plan, Project

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prisoner, Criminal

    kanji

    Meaning

    House, Quarters

    kanji

    Meaning

    Umbrella, Parasol

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 53 kanji contain the part 一 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Three

    kanji

    Meaning

    Seven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hundred

    kanji

    Meaning

    Up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Big

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heaven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Insect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    Meaning

    Child

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mouth

    kanji

    Meaning

    Book, Origin

    kanji

    Meaning

    Correct

    kanji

    Meaning

    King

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Light

    kanji

    Meaning

    Same

    kanji

    西

    Meaning

    West

    kanji

    Meaning

    Door

    kanji

    Meaning

    Picture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Construction

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bird

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yellow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Come

    kanji

    Meaning

    Go

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fit, Match

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cold

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    Meaning

    Street

    kanji

    Meaning

    Both

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beans

    kanji

    Meaning

    Precious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Worship

    kanji

    Meaning

    Use, Dispatch

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mutual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Again, Twice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Arrive, Climax

    kanji

    Meaning

    Military

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beast, Animal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spirits

    kanji

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Third, Third class

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 今 mean?

今 means 'Now'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.