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HSK 1

现在

now; at present

nounneutral
现
xiàn4th tone
在
zài4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
xiànzài
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 1
Strokes
14
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 现在

现在 is written with 14 strokes (现: 8, 在: 6). The animation replays automatically.

What does 现在 mean?

现在 (xiànzài) is the Chinese word for 'now' or 'at present' — the time word for the current moment, today's situation, or the present era.

Grammatically it's a time noun, so it sits at the beginning of a clause or just after the subject: 现在几点 'what time is it now?' / 我现在很忙 'I'm busy now.' Two contrasts with English: first, Chinese verbs don't conjugate for tense, so 现在 (or another time word) is what tells the listener you're talking about the present — without it, the same sentence can mean past, present, or future depending on context.

Second, 现在 names the present moment ('now'); for the broader idea of 'these days / nowadays' Chinese often uses 现在 too, but 如今 (rújīn) or 目前 (mùqián) sound more written or formal. Literal meaning: 现 'appear / present' + 在 'exist / at.'

Character by character

现xiànto appear; present; current
+
在zàito be at; to exist
=
现在

Memory hook: 现 'present' + 在 'exist' — 'the present that exists' = now.

Example sentences

现在几点？

Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?

What time is it now?

spoken

我现在很忙。

Wǒ xiànzài hěn máng.

I'm busy right now.

neutral

现在我们去吃饭吧。

Xiànzài wǒmen qù chī fàn ba.

Let's go eat now.

spoken

现在的孩子都喜欢手机。

Xiànzài de háizi dōu xǐhuan shǒujī.

Kids these days all like phones.

spoken

Common phrases with 现在

现在几点xiànzài jǐ diǎnwhat time is it now?
从现在起cóng xiànzài qǐstarting now / from now on
到现在dào xiànzàiup to now / until now
现在的xiànzài decurrent; today's
现在就xiànzài jiùright now (emphatic)

Synonyms

目前mùqián

目前 ('at the moment / currently') is more written and formal, common in news and reports. 现在 is the everyday spoken word.

如今rújīn

如今 means 'nowadays / these days' — emphasizing change from the past. 现在 is just 'now,' neutral on whether things used to be different.

此刻cǐkè

此刻 ('this moment') is literary and dramatic. 现在 is plain everyday speech.

Don't confuse 现在 with

在zài

在 alone means 'at / in / exist,' or marks the progressive ('-ing'). 现在 is a fixed time-word meaning 'now.' Don't drop 现 if you mean 'now.'

今天jīntiān

今天 is 'today' (the whole day). 现在 is 'now' (this moment). 现在 is more precise about the instant in time.

FAQ

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