xiàn
zài
(Mandarin)
(Cantonese)

現在 (Traditional: 現在)

HSK 1

Dictionary

now; at present; currently

Examples

现在几点了?

Xiàn zài jǐ diǎn le?

What time is it now?

现在的生活比以前方便多了。

Xiàn zài de shēnghuó bǐ yǐqián fāngbiàn duō le.

Life at present is much more convenient than before.

他正在开会,现在不能接电话。

Tā zhèngzài kāihuì, xiàn zài bù néng jiē diànhuà.

He is in a meeting currently and cannot answer the phone.

Did You Know?

Word Order

Word Formation

现 means 'present/current' and 在 means 'at/in'.

Usage Tips

现在 (now) goes at the start of a sentence: 现在我去学校 (Now I go to school), not after the verb like in English — time words always come first.