今に|いまにimani[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverbbefore long; even now
   いまに誰だれも相手あいてにしてくれなくなるよ。↗

   Soon nobody will have anything to do with you.

• SynonymそのうちCasualColloquial; means before long or sooner or later, as in 「そのうち分かる」, with the timing left vague; 「今に」 often has a prophetic, warning tone.
• SynonymそろそろNeutralMeans it is about time or gradually, as in 「そろそろ帰ろう」; carries the sense that the moment is drawing near.
• Synonym近々ちかぢかNeutralMeans soon, as in 「近々伺います」, often used to tell someone of one's plans; the 'before long' of 「今に」 more often carries a prophetic or warning tone.
• RelatedやがてNeutralBefore long or finally, as in 「やがて春が来る」; suits narrating how situations unfold, whereas 「今に」 often carries a just-you-wait prophetic tone.
• RelatedまもなくNeutralSoon or shortly, as in 「間もなく到着します」; heard mostly in announcements and simply states the timing objectively.
• RelatedほどなくWrittenWritten/formal prose; means a short while later and often narrates past events, while the 'before long' of 「今に」 looks ahead from now.
• RelatedすぐNeutralMeans at once or right away, stressing an almost nil time gap; it can also describe nearness in distance, while the 'before long' of 「今に」 looks to the future.
• Related遠からずとおからずWrittenWritten/formal prose; means in the near future, as in 「遠からず判明する」; close to the 'before long' of 「今に」 and can also warn of bad consequences.
• RelatedもうNeutralCan mean soon, as in 「もう来る」, and also 'already'; the 'before long' of 「今に」 stresses that something will happen at some future point.
• Related近くちかくNeutralFor the near term, as in 「近く発表される」, it fits advance notices; it can also mean nearby, while 「今に」 often sounds prophetic or warning.
• Related今にもいまにもNeutralMeans on the verge of, as in 「今にも雨が降りそうだ」; more imminent than 「今に」.
• Related後ほどのちほどNeutralA polite way to say later, as in 「後ほど連絡します」; the point is dealing with something later, not how soon it will be.
• RelatedいくばくもなくWrittenWritten/formal prose; means not long after, as in 「幾ばくもなく亡くなった」; little used in modern Japanese.
• Related追っておってWrittenWritten/formal prose; means later or separately, as in 「追って連絡します」, and can also introduce a postscript; 「今に」 can prophesy about the future.
• Related追っ付けおっつけCasualColloquial; means before long or in a while, as in 「おっつけ来るだろう」; a somewhat old-fashioned way of saying it.
• Related近いうちにちかいうちにNeutralMeans soon, as in 「近いうちに会おう」; common in speech and often used when making plans or promises.
• Related不日ふじつWrittenWritten/formal prose; means within a few days, as in 「不日参上いたします」; found mostly in official documents and letters.
• RelatedもうすぐCasualColloquial; means soon or almost, as in 「もうすぐ夏休み」; 「今に」 often carries a just-you-wait prophetic tone.
• Related日ならずひならずWrittenWritten/formal prose; means within days, as in 「日ならずして完成した」; with few examples of use.

Use 「今に」 for 'before long' with a prophetic or warning tone, as in 「今に見ていろ」. To state 'soon' objectively, choose 「間もなく」 or 「やがて」; for 'on the verge of', 「今にも」; in casual speech, 「もうすぐ」 or 「そのうち」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. すぐに、もうじき。近ちかい将来しょうらい。
2. 今いまでさえ、この瞬間しゅんかんでさえ。