Vocabulary · 词汇 cíhuì

现在

xiànzài

The everyday word for now: this instant and the present era both, where it must sit in a sentence, and how it differs from the more formal 目前, the literary 如今, and the narrow 此刻.

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字源 zìyuán Etymology & Structure
字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

现 xiàn (to appear, to manifest) joins 王 (a form of 玉 yù, jade) with 见 jiàn (to see): the moment a polished jade reveals its luster, what becomes visible, what shows itself. From "appear" it took on the sense of "present, current," what is showing now. 在 zài means "to exist, to be at." Together 现在 reads as "the manifest present," the time that exists and shows itself right now.

The 现 of "present" runs through related words: 现代 xiàndài (modern times), 现实 xiànshí (reality), 出现 chūxiàn (to appear), 现金 xiànjīn (cash, money "on hand"). All share the idea of what is actually here and showing itself, as opposed to the remembered past or the imagined future.

现在 xiànzài The Core Word
现在 xiànzài now; at present; currently
N 时间词 shíjiāncí
The current moment or the present period. It covers a wide span, from "right this second" (现在几点) to "these years of my life" (我现在住在北京). As a time word it sits before the verb. It can also stand alone as an answer or a contrast marker: 现在呢？("and now?"), 现在不一样了 ("now it's different").
现在几点了？
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?
What time is it now?
我现在没空，等一下。
Wǒ xiànzài méi kòng, děng yíxià.
I'm not free right now, hold on a moment.
现在的年轻人很喜欢这个。
Xiànzài de niánqīngrén hěn xǐhuan zhège.
Young people these days really like this.
用法 yòngfǎ Patterns — Where the Time Word Sits
现在 in use · the core patterns Subject + 现在 + Verb , 我现在去 · I'm going now
现在 + Subject + Verb , 现在我们开始 · now we begin
现在的 + Noun , 现在的生活 · life nowadays
到现在 / 现在为止 , up to now; so far
从现在起 , from now on
从现在起 cóng xiànzài qǐ from now on
A fixed frame meaning "starting from now." 从 (from) plus 现在 plus 起 (to start). It marks a turning point or a resolution: 从现在起，我要早睡 ("from now on, I'll go to bed early"). A close variant is 从现在开始, with 开始 (to begin) in place of 起.
从现在起，一切都会好起来。
Cóng xiànzài qǐ, yíqiè dōu huì hǎo qǐlái.
From now on, everything will get better.
到现在 dào xiànzài up to now; so far
"Up to the present," used to measure a stretch reaching the present moment, often with 还 (still) or 都 to stress that something has or has not happened by now: 到现在他还没来 ("he still hasn't come, even now"). The fuller form 到现在为止 ("up to now") adds 为止 ("as the limit").
到现在我还记得那一天。
Dào xiànzài wǒ hái jìde nà yì tiān.
Even now I still remember that day.
辨析 biànxī Four Ways to Say Now
辨析 biànxī · Distinguishing the Words

Chinese has several words for "now," and they differ in register and in how wide a slice of time they cover. 现在 xiànzài is the everyday default, stretching from this instant to the present period, and at home in any sentence. 目前 mùqián ("before the eyes") means "at present, currently," a touch more formal, suited to the current state of affairs: 目前的情况 ("the present situation").

此刻 cǐkè is "this very moment," narrow and often charged with feeling, a word for writing and heightened speech. 如今 rújīn is "nowadays, these days," literary and comparative, almost always setting the present against the past: 如今的孩子 ("children these days," with an implied contrast to before). A simple ladder: 此刻 (this instant) → 现在 (now, general) → 目前 (at present, the current state) → 如今 (this era, versus past eras). When unsure, reach for 现在.

成语 chéngyǔ Set Phrases
古往今来 gǔ wǎng jīn lái from ancient times to the present Literally "the ancient goes, the present comes," spanning all of history up to now. Used to introduce a truth that has held across the ages: 古往今来，人人都怕死 ("from ancient times to now, everyone fears death"). Here 今 is the classical single character for "the present, now."
今非昔比 jīn fēi xī bǐ the present cannot compare with the past Literally "today is not what the past compared to," meaning things have changed greatly, usually for the better, so that now far surpasses before. 今 (now) versus 昔 (former times). A common way to mark dramatic progress or transformation.
事到如今 shì dào rújīn now that things have come to this Literally "matters have arrived at the present," a set opener used when a situation has reached its current, often difficult, point and one must face it: 事到如今，只能这样了 ("now that it's come to this, this is all we can do"). Built on 如今 (nowadays, the present).
相关 xiāngguān Related
Related entries — pages and vocabulary in the neighbourhood of this one
一会儿yíhuìra short whileThe everyday word for a little while, how it marks both a short duration and the near future, and how it differs from the verb-softener 一下 and from 等会儿.theme · timing 时候shíhoutime, momentThe everyday word for a point in time, and the indispensable 的时候 ("when") pattern that every learner needs.theme · time 时间shíjiāntimeTime: the compound that anchors all temporal expression in Mandarin.theme · time 时代shídàiera, ageThe word for a historical era or age, built from 时 (time) and 代 (generation), and how it differs from 时期 a period, 年代 a decade, 时候 a moment, and 现代 modern times.theme · time 再zàiagain, then, furtherThe adverb that sequences and repeats: again, one more time, and the subtle art of "and then."theme · time 正在zhèngzàicurrently doing, progressive aspectThe primary progressive marker in Mandarin -- placed before a verb to signal an action caught in mid-motion, exactly now, still in progress.theme · timing 现代xiàndàimodern timesThe word for the modern era, built from 现 (present, manifest) and 代 (generation, age), how Chinese history slices time into 古代 / 近代 / 现代 / 当代, and how 现代 differs from 现在 now.theme · time 终于zhōngyúfinally, at lastThe adverb for "finally, at last," used when something long-awaited or hard-won comes to pass, where it sits in a sentence, and how it differs from 最后, 总算, and 到底.theme · timing
词族 cízú Vocabulary in this field
目前mùqiánat present; currently 如今rújīnnowadays; these days 此刻cǐkèthis very moment 刚才gāngcáijust now; a moment ago 时候shíhoutime; moment 现代xiàndàimodern; modern times
常见问题chángjiàn wèntíFrequently Asked Questions
What does 现在 (xiànzài) mean?
现在 xiànzài means 'now' or 'at present,' the current moment or current period. 现在几点？('what time is it now?'), 我现在很忙 ('I'm busy right now'). It is the ordinary, all-purpose word for now in spoken and written Mandarin, used for both this instant and the present era.
Where does 现在 go in a Chinese sentence?
As a time word, 现在 goes before the verb, and usually right after the subject or at the very start of the sentence: 我现在去 ('I'm going now') or 现在我去 ('now I'll go'). It does not go after the verb. This is the general rule for Chinese time expressions: time-when comes before the verb, never after it.
What is the difference between 现在, 目前, and 如今?
现在 xiànzài is plain 'now,' for both this moment and the present period, and works in any register. 目前 mùqián is 'at present, currently,' slightly more formal and used for the current state of affairs ('the situation at present'). 如今 rújīn is 'nowadays, these days,' literary and comparative, contrasting the present era with the past ('nowadays things are different'). For everyday speech, 现在 is the safe default.
What is the difference between 现在 and 此刻?
现在 xiànzài is general 'now,' covering anything from this second to this year. 此刻 cǐkè is 'this very moment, at this instant,' narrow and often emotional or literary: 此刻我很感动 ('at this very moment I'm deeply moved'). Use 现在 in ordinary conversation; 此刻 belongs to writing and heightened speech where the precise instant matters.