今 meaning and stroke order
Modern, current; today, now
How to write 今, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 今
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- now
- the present time
- current
- contemporary
- this (day, year etc)
How 今 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A mouth 亼 talking about things.
Radical: 人 (man), shared by 30 characters on this site.
How to remember 今
The top of 今 (jīn) is 亼, a mouth shape, and the hint describes a mouth talking about things. Picture someone opening their mouth to talk about what is happening right now, today.
今 (jīn) rarely stands alone in modern speech. It usually appears in words like 今天 (jīntiān, today), 今年 (jīnnián, this year) and 如今 (rújīn, nowadays). Example: 今天很冷。(Jīntiān hěn lěng.) It is cold today.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 今 (jīn) with 令 (lìng, to order), which looks very similar. In 今 the bottom stroke is a short horizontal with a bend down, while 令 ends with a dot under the bent stroke.
Common words with 今
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 今天 | jīntiān | today; the present time; now | HSK 1 |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year | HSK 1 |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth | HSK 2 |
| 至今 | zhìjīn | so far; to this day | HSK 3 |
| 如今 | rújīn | nowadays; now | HSK 4 |
| 今日 | jīnrì | today | HSK 5 |
| 从今以后 | cóng jīn yǐhòu | from now on; henceforward | HSK 7-9 |
| 当今 | dāngjīn | the present time; (old) (in reference to the reigning monarch) His Majesty | HSK 7-9 |
| 迄今为止 | qìjīn-wéizhǐ | so far; up to now | HSK 7-9 |
| 迄今 | qìjīn | so far; to date | HSK 7-9 |
| 古今中外 | gǔjīn-zhōngwài | at all times and in all places (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 今晚 | jīnwǎn | tonight | |
| 今早 | jīnzǎo | this morning | |
| 今夜 | jīnyè | tonight; this evening |
今 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 今
Learning 今 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 今
How many strokes are in 今?
今 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 今 mean?
今 (jīn) means modern, current; today, now. A common word with it is 今天 (jīntiān), meaning "today; the present time; now".
How do you pronounce 今?
今 is pronounced jīn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 今?
The radical of 今 is 人, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 今 under this radical.
Is 今 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 今 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Is there a difference between 今天 and 今日?
Both mean today. 今天 (jīntiān) is the normal everyday word. 今日 (jīnrì) sounds more formal or written and appears in news, signs and set phrases.
How do I say this month or this week with 今?
You do not use 今 for these. Chinese says 这个月 (zhège yuè) for this month and 这个星期 (zhège xīngqī) for this week. 今 combines mainly with 天, 年, 日 and 晚, as in 今晚 (jīnwǎn, tonight).