今

jīn
noun #1,812

Meanings

  1. 1 now; the present
  2. 2 today; this (year, etc.)

Examples

HSK 1
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.
The weather is nice today.
HSK 1
今年是2026年。
Jīnnián shì èr líng èr liù nián.
This year is 2026.
HSK 3
Cóngjīn yǐhòu wǒ yào nǔlì.
From now on I will work hard.

Tips

usage
今 forms common time words: 今天 (today), 今年 (this year), 今晚 (tonight), 如今 (nowadays), 至今 (up to now). It contrasts with 古 (ancient) in the pair 古今 (past and present).

Components

radical
人 rén
person
The person radical caps the character as an inverted A-shape lid. Indexed under 人, the top suggests an overhang of presence - the moment one is standing in right now. Pairs with the small hook-mark below to complete the 'now' silhouette.
ideograph
亅 jué
hook stroke; small closing mark
Small two-stroke residue beneath the 人 cap, functioning as a non-decomposable closing mark that finishes the silhouette. Acts as a positional indicator rather than carrying independent meaning. Historically a tongue or pointer element inside the gathering, reduced to this abstract finishing stroke.

Stroke Order

今 jīn