今(いま)

いま
noun, adverb
now, the present
time-general
1. now, at this moment
Refers to the current time or moment.
今(いま)何時(なんじ)ですか。
What time is it now?
今(いま)、何(なに)をしていますか。
What are you doing now?
今(いま)どこにいますか。
Where are you now?
今(いま)は忙(いそが)しいです。
I'm busy now.
今(いま)の仕事(しごと)は好(す)きですか。
Do you like your current job?
2. soon, just now
Can indicate something that just happened or is about to happen.
今(いま)行(い)きます。
I'm coming now. / I'll be right there.
Common response when called
今(いま)帰(かえ)ってきたところです。
I just got home.
今(いま)食(た)べたばかりです。
I just ate.
今(いま)から出(で)かけます。
I'm going out now.
今(いま)すぐ来(き)てください。大変(たいへん)なことがありました。
Please come right away. Something terrible happened.

今(いま) is one of the most common time words in Japanese. It functions as both a noun (今(いま)の仕事(しごと) = current job) and an adverb (今(いま)行(い)きます = I'm going now).

Common patterns

  • 今(いま)すぐ: right now, immediately
  • 今(いま)から: from now, starting now
  • 今(いま)のところ: for now, at present
  • 今(いま)まで: until now, so far

Compounds

Usage

今(いま)行(い)きます is a common response when called, meaning 'I'll be right there' (not literally 'I'm going now').

Related Words

Synonym: 現在(げんざい) (the present (more formal, written style))
Antonym: 昔(むかし) (long ago, in the past)
Compare: さっき (a little while ago (just before now))
Compare: 目下(もっか) (at present)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:25 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
00500/00945_ima