現代|げんだいgendai[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. no-adjectivepresent age; present day; today
   私は現代げんだいの音楽おんがくはあまり好すきではない事ことを認みとめます。↗

   I must admit I don't like much contemporary music.
2. no-adjectivemodern era; modern times
   私達わたしたちが住すんでいる現代げんだいに入はいってから、私達わたしたちは国際こくさい論争ろんそうの結末けつまつとして、２度どの世界せかい大戦たいせんを体験たいけんした。↗

   In modern times we have gone through two world wars as the end result of international disputes.

• Synonym今いまCasualColloquial word for 'now'; it can also mean the present era, as in 「今の時代」. 「現代」 specifically names the era that includes the present.
• Synonym現下げんかWrittenWritten word for 'at present, right now', as in 「現下の情勢」; typical of official documents and editorials.
• Synonym当世とうせいWrittenWritten word for 'the world today', as in 「当世風」; it has an old-fashioned flavor. In everyday speech say 「今の時代」.
• Synonym現今げんこんWrittenRare written word for 'nowadays, in recent times'. In daily speech use 「現在」 or 「今」.
• Synonym当今とうこんWrittenWritten word for 'the present day'; it can also mean the reigning Emperor. Rarely used in everyday speech.
• Related今日この頃きょうこのごろCasualSet phrase for 'these past days', often with a sighing, essay-like tone; it covers only the stretch of time right around now, not an era.
• Related今時いまどきCasualColloquial 'these days', as in 「今時の若者」; it often carries a sigh or a critical note about the times.
• Related近頃ちかごろCasualMeans 'lately, recently', as in 「近頃の天気」; its scope is the recent stretch of days, while 「現代」 is a division of history.
• Related現在げんざいNeutralNeutral word for 'now, at present', as in 「現在の状況」; it points to the current moment, while 「現代」 points to the era.
• Related現時点げんじてんWrittenWritten word for 'at this point in time', as in 「現時点では未定」; common in reports and statements. It never refers to an era.
• Related昨今さっこんWrittenWritten word for 'recently, these days', as in 「昨今の物価高」; typical of news items and formal speeches.
• Relatedこの頃このごろCasualColloquial 'these days', as in 「この頃忙しい」; it covers a short recent span, while 「現代」 is an era.
• Related方今ほうこんWrittenRare written word for 'now, at present'; not used in everyday speech.
• Related当節とうせつWrittenWritten word for 'nowadays', as in 「当節の流行」; it carries an old-fashioned tone.
• Related輓近ばんきんWrittenRare written word for 'recently, in recent times'; in daily speech say 「最近」.
• Related刻下こっかWrittenRare written word for 'this very moment, at present'; in daily speech say 「目下」 or 「現在」.
• Related今日日きょうびCasualColloquial 'nowadays', as in 「今日日の子供」; heard especially in the Kansai region, with a sighing tone.
• Antonym古代こだいNeutralHistorical 'ancient times'; it stands opposite to 「現代」 in the division of historical eras.
• Antonym過去かこNeutralTime that has already passed; it contrasts directly with 「現在」 and only roughly with 「現代」.

Use 「現代」 for the present age as a span of history. For the current moment use 「今」 or 「現在」. For 'lately, these past days' use 「最近」, 「この頃」 or 「近頃」. 「今時」 adds a sigh or criticism about the times, and 「今日日」 (Kansai) does the same. In written prose, 「現下」 and 「現時点」 serve for 'at present' and 「昨今」 for 'recently'; rare literary words such as 「刻下」 and 「方今」 are best left to reading.

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

1. 時間じかんに関かんする認識にんしきで、現在げんざいを含ふくむ時代じだい。
2. 歴史れきしの時代じだい区分くぶんで、現在げんざいを含ふくむ時代じだい。