Meaning of 如今
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- nowadays; now
How to use 如今
如今 contrasts the present with the past, often over a span of years. It usually comes at the start of a sentence or right after the subject. Example: 如今很多人用手机付钱。(Rújīn hěn duō rén yòng shǒujī fù qián.) Nowadays many people pay with their phones.
如 (rú) means "like, as" and 今 (jīn) means "now," the same 今 you see in 今天 (jīntiān). Think of 如今 as "as things are now," which is how you say "nowadays."
Common mistake: Learners use 如今 for the immediate moment, as in 我如今很忙. For "right now" use 现在 (xiànzài), and keep 如今 for broader changes over time. Also, do not confuse 如今 with 如果 (rúguǒ, if) just because both start with 如.
如今 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
如 rú · as · 6 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
今 jīn · modern · 4 strokes
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- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 如今.
| 今天 | jīntiān | today; the present time; now |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year |
| 如果 | rúguǒ | if; in case; in the event that |
| 不如 | bùrú | not equal to; not as good as; inferior to; it would be better to |
| 比如 | bǐrú | for example; for instance; such as |
| 比如说 | bǐrú shuō | for example |
| 例如 | lìrú | for example; for instance; such as |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth |
| 如何 | rúhé | how; what way |
| 至今 | zhìjīn | so far; to this day |
| 假如 | jiǎrú | if |
| 如此 | rúcǐ | like this; so; such |
Questions about 如今
What does 如今 mean?
如今 (rújīn) means "nowadays; now" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 如今?
如今 is made of 2 characters: 如 (6 strokes), 今 (4 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 如今 an HSK word?
Yes. 如今 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 如今 and 现在?
现在 (xiànzài) works for any "now," from this minute to this era. 如今 sounds a bit more formal or written and usually implies a contrast with an earlier time, like "in the past it was X, but nowadays it is Y."
Can 如今 be used with words like 以前 or 过去?
Yes, it often pairs with them to show change. For example: 过去这里是农村，如今成了城市。(Guòqù zhèlǐ shì nóngcūn, rújīn chéngle chéngshì.) This used to be countryside, but now it has become a city.