当世|とうせいtousei[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, adverbpresent-day; nowadays

• Synonym今時いまどきNeutralColloquial 'these days', often with a wry comparison between now and the past, as in 「今時の若者」; 「当世」 is more literary and old-fashioned.
• Synonym近頃ちかごろNeutralEveryday word for the recent stretch of time, common in speech; 「当世」 covers the whole present age and its mores, a broader scope.
• Synonym現在げんざいNeutralThe most general word for 'now', an objective point in time; 「当世」 instead highlights the fashions and spirit of the present age.
• Synonym最近さいきんNeutralThe period running from the recent past up to now, as in 「最近は雨が多い」; 「当世」 points to the present age and world at large.
• Synonym現代げんだいNeutralThe era that includes the present, also a term for a historical period; 「当世」 is more old-fashioned, seen mostly in 「当世風」 and the like.
• Synonym今いまNeutralThe plainest, most colloquial 'now, at this moment'; it carries none of 「当世」's sense of the age and its trends.
• Synonym昨今さっこんWrittenWritten word for 'these days', as in 「昨今の情勢」; more common than 「当世」 and focused on the recent stretch, not the whole era.
• Synonymこの頃このごろNeutralCommon in speech for the recent past, as in 「この頃寒い」; it looks at the near term, not the present age as a whole.
• Synonym今日日きょうびNeutralColloquial 'nowadays' carrying a sigh at the times, as in 「今日日の物価」; 「当世」 is the more literary word.
• Synonym時下じかWrittenWritten/formal prose, mainly the letter-opening set phrase 「時下ますます」; on its own it does not describe the era.
• Synonym現今げんこんWrittenWritten word for the present day, used rarely; close to 「当世」 in meaning but more objective in tone.
• Synonymこの節このせつNeutralColloquial but old-fashioned way to say 'lately', as in 「この節は物騒だ」.
• Synonym当今とうこんWrittenWritten and archaic; means the present day but can also refer to the reigning Emperor.
• Related現時点げんじてんWrittenWritten style for the present point in time, as in 「現時点では」; it zeroes in on the time point rather than the age.
• Related現下げんかWrittenWritten/formal, for the current situation, mostly in official documents and speeches, as in 「現下の情勢」.
• Related刻下こっかWrittenWritten and very rare, for the present moment; 「目下」 is the usual word.
• Antonym昔むかしNeutralThe past, 'the old days' — the direct opposite of 「当世」's present day.
• Antonym古世WrittenWritten word for ancient times, the opposite of 「当世」's present day; rarely used.

For everyday talk about now, use 「今」 or 「現在」; for the recent stretch, 「最近」, 「近頃」 or 「この頃」. 「今時」 and 「今日日」 add a colloquial sigh at the times. 「当世」 itself is literary and old-fashioned, mostly in set phrases like 「当世風」, and points to the present age and its fashions. Written alternatives: 「現時点」 (the current time point), 「昨今」 (recently), 「現今」, 「現下」 (the current situation), 「時下」 (letters), 「当今」, 「刻下」 (rare). For the past, say 「昔」; 「古世」 is a rare written word for ancient times.

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

1. 今いまの世の中よのなか。