今|いまima[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. no-adjective, adverbnow; the present time; just now; soon; immediately
   今いまのアナウンスは何なんだったのですか。↗

   What did the announcement just say?
2. adverbanother; more

• Synonym現在げんざいNeutralSino-Japanese word for the present; more formal than 「今」. It can follow a time to mean 'as of', as in 「三時現在」.
• Synonym現時点げんじてんWrittenThe current point in time, mostly in reports and statements, as in 「現時点では未定」; stresses that things are tentative for now.
• Synonym現下げんかWrittenWritten/formal prose for the present situation, as in 「現下の情勢」; not used in everyday speech.
• Synonym現代げんだいNeutralThe present age or era, as in 「現代社会」; its time span is far larger than 「今」.
• Synonym今やいまやWrittenWritten-leaning; stresses a contrast with the past — now it has become so, as in 「今や常識だ」.
• Synonym当世とうせいWrittenWritten word for the present day and world, as in 「当世風」; carries an old-fashioned flavor.
• Synonym今日きょうNeutralRead きょう it means today, this day; for 'nowadays' it is usually read こんにち and leans written, while 「今」 is this moment or the present.
• Synonym刻下こっかWrittenArchaic written word for the present moment; almost never used today — say 「今」 or 「目下」 in everyday speech.
• Synonym今しがたいましがたNeutralA moment ago, as in 「今しがた帰った」; covers only the instant just past, while 「今」 has a wider range.
• Synonymたった今たったいまNeutralStresses 'just this moment', or means right this minute, as in 「たった今着いた」; a stronger sense of recency than 「今」.
• Synonym即今そっこんWrittenRare written word for the present moment; in daily speech use 「今」 or 「ただいま」.
• RelatedさしあたりNeutralFor the time being, as in 「差し当たり困らない」; focuses on making do for now, a nuance 「今」 lacks.
• Related当座とうざNeutralFor the time being or the present stretch, as in 「当座の生活費」; focuses on a short-term, stopgap period.
• Related方今ほうこんWrittenArchaic written word for nowadays or at present; almost never used in modern Japanese.
• Relatedこの節このせつNeutralSomewhat old-fashioned way to say recently or these days, as in 「この節は物価が高い」.
• RelatedついさっきCasualColloquial: just a short while ago, as in 「ついさっき見た」; stresses that it just happened.
• Related今方いまがたWrittenArchaic word for a moment ago; rarely used today — say 「さっき」 instead.
• Related此の中このじゅうCasualOld-fashioned colloquial for recently or this past while, as in 「このじゅうは忙しい」; rarely used today.
• Related今にしていまにしてNeutralOften with 「思えば」: only now, at this late point, as in 「今にして思えば」 — realizing something only now.
• Antonym昔むかしNeutralThe opposite of 「今」: long ago, the past, former times.
• Antonym未来みらいNeutralThe opposite of 「今」: the time to come, leaning toward the more distant future.

For 'now' or 'at the moment', 「今」 is the default; in formal settings use 「現在」, and for the current point in reports or statements use 「現時点」. For 'a moment ago' use 「さっき」 or 「たった今」. For 'for the time being' use 「差し当たり」 or 「当座」. For the present era use 「現代」. 「今や」 stresses a break with the past. Words like 「現下」「刻下」「即今」「方今」「当世」「今方」「此の中」 are written or archaic and rarely needed; 「昔」 and 「未来」 are the past and future opposites of 「今」.

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

1. （いま）現在げんざい、現時点げんじてん。
2. （いま）すぐ、すぐに。
3. （いま）ついさきほど。
4. （いま）さらに、もう。