ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
今
now; present; today
jīn
4 strokes · 亼 (gathered cover) over a point — the moment caught under a lid · HSK 1
Where 今 comes from
A cover coming down over something — the instant being captured. What is under your hand right now: the present. 今天 today, 今年 this year, 如今 nowadays.
今 in Chinese culture
今 anchors all present-time words: 今天 today, 今晚 tonight, 今年 this year. Its mirror is 令 (command) — one extra stroke, endless learner typos. 至今 'until now' shows up in every news article.
Example
今天 jīntiān — today
今天天气很好。
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.
The weather is great today.
How to remember it
A lid CLOSING on this very moment — NOW, TODAY.
今 and 明 pair into the learner's first timeline: 今天 today, 明天 tomorrow — present and brightness ahead.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 今
今天 jīntiān
today
今年 jīnnián
this year
Related characters
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