HSK Guide

现在現在 xiànzài — now, at the moment

xiànzài (fourth tone, falling)xian4zai4

Traditional: 現在

now, at the moment

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardnounadverb
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Meanings

  1. now, at the moment

    The present moment. Like all Chinese time words it is a noun that behaves adverbially, and it stands before the verb — either after the subject or at the head of the sentence.

    noun

  2. nowadays, these days

    adverb

Character breakdown

  • 在
    zài (fourth tone, falling)

    to be at, to be in, to exist, to be present; at, in, on (before a place); (before a verb) the progressive marker

    6 strokes⿸𠂇土Radical 土

Example sentences

  • 现在是上午十点。現在是上午十點。Xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) shàngwǔ (fourth tone, falling) shí (second tone, rising) diǎn. (third tone, dipping)···

    It’s ten in the morning.

  • 我现在在家。我現在在家。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā. (first tone, high and level)···

    I’m at home right now.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我在家现在。

    Correct我现在在家。

    Time words never sit at the end of a Chinese sentence. 现在 belongs before the verb, directly after the subject.

Similar words

Words containing 在