Translation and Meaning of: 今 - ima

If you are studying Japanese, you have certainly come across the word 今[いま] — a simple term, but full of nuances. In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday usage, and even tips for memorizing this kanji without hassle. Besides the basic meaning ("now"), we will see how the Japanese apply this word in everyday expressions and why it is so prevalent in the language. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition method, get ready to jot down practical examples that will boost your studies!

The origin and the pictogram of 今

The kanji 今 has an interesting visual history: its ancient design represented a lid pressing something down, symbolizing the idea of "present moment." Over time, the writing evolved into its current form but retained the notion of something that is happening at this very moment. In the composition of other terms, such as 今日[きょう] (today) or 今月[こんげつ] (this month), it always reinforces the idea of immediate temporality.

One curiosity is that, although いま is the most common reading, in combinations with other kanjis it can sound completely different — like in 今晩[こんばん] (tonight). This is one of those cases where memorizing it in isolation is not enough: it's necessary to see the word in context to get the hang of it.

Use in everyday life and popular expressions

The Japanese use 今 with a naturalness that goes beyond the basics. Phrases like 今どこ？ ("Where are you now?") are common in messages, while 今やってる ("I'm doing it now") appears in informal conversations. In stores, you might hear 今お持ちします ("I'll bring it right away"), showing how the term is connected to imminent action.

But be careful: in some contexts, 今 can have a slightly impatient tone. Saying 今行く ("I'm going now") sounds more urgent than a simple すぐ (soon). A friend of mine once got scolded at work for responding 今やります ("I'll do it now") while he was on his phone — in Japan, "now" means right now, not "in a little while".

Tips to memorize and avoid traps

To avoid confusing 今 with similar kanjis like 令, an infallible technique is to associate its upper stroke with a "roof" that protects the present moment. Another trick is to remember that it appears in everyday key words: from 今度[こんど] (this time) to 今朝[けさ] (this morning).

If you want to practice, try creating sentences with temporal contrasts: Yesterday was busy, but now I'm free ("昨日は忙しかったけど、今は暇"). This type of exercise reinforces both vocabulary and the concept of time — something that Japanese teachers love to test in exams. And when in doubt about usage, remember: if the situation demands urgency, 今 is your best choice.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 本日 (ほんじつ) - Today (formal)
• この日 (このひ) - This day
• きょう (きょう) - Today (informal)
• いま (いま) - now
• いまだ (いまだ) - Still (indicates continuity, not finished)
• いまのところ (いまのところ) - For now, at this moment
• いまさら (いまさら) - Now (used to indicate that it is too late for something)
• いまだに (いまだに) - Still (saying that something persists to the present)

今

Romaji: ima
Kana: いま
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: now; the present time; right now; shortly; immediately; (another.

Meaning in English: now;the present time;just now;soon;immediately;(one) more

Definition: "Ima" is a Japanese word that describes this moment or the current time.

Example Sentences - (今) ima

See below some example sentences:

私は今日の仕事を済ますつもりです。

Watashi wa kyō no shigoto o sumasu tsumori desu

I intend to finish my work today.

I will finish my work today.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 今日 (kyou) - means "today" in Japanese.
• の (no) - Possession particle in Japanese
• 仕事 (shigoto) - "work" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - Direct object particle in Japanese
• 済ます (sumasu) - means "conclude" or "end" in Japanese
• つもり (tsumori) - means "intention" or "planning" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - polite way of "being" in Japanese

私は今日当番です。

Watashi wa kyou touban desu

I'm in charge of the shift today.

I'm on duty today.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 今日 - Japanese noun meaning "today"
• 当番 - Japanese noun meaning "on duty", "on duty"
• です - Japanese verb that indicates the polite and formal form of the present indicative.

私は今日着る服を決めていない。

Watashi wa kyō kiru fuku o kimete inai

I still haven't decided what outfit to wear today.

I haven't decided on the clothes I wear today.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 今日 - Japanese adverb that means "today"
• 着る - Japanese verb meaning "to put on"
• 服 - Japanese noun that means "clothing"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 決めていない - Japanese verb conjugated in the negative meaning "not to have decided"

私は今日友達の家に寄ります。

Watashi wa kyō tomodachi no ie ni yorimasu

I'm going to my friend's house today.

I'm stopping at my friend's house today.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 今日 - noun that means "today"
• 友達 - noun meaning "friend"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of the friend"
• 家 - noun that means "house"
• に - particle that indicates destination, in this case "for"
• 寄ります - verb that means "to visit"

私たちは今後の方針を決定する必要があります。

Watashitachi wa kongo no houshin wo kettei suru hitsuyou ga arimasu

We need to decide our future direction.

We need to decide on future policies.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 今後の - adjective "future"
• 方針を - noun "policy/guideline" + particle "direct object"
• 決定する - verb "to decide"
• 必要があります - the expression "be necessary"