Chinese–EnglishWith examples

现在

xiàn zài · xian zai

Traditional 現在

HSK 1

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. now
  2. at present
  3. at the moment
  4. modern
  5. current
  6. nowadays
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In a conversation

0:14 cartoon

Where are you now?

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)现在(xiànzài)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？

    Where are you now?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)在(zài)公司(gōngsī)门口(ménkǒu)。

    I'm at the office entrance now.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)也(yě)在(zài)公司(gōngsī)门口(ménkǒu)，没(méi)看到(kàndào)你(nǐ)。

    I'm at the office entrance too, and I don't see you.

  4. Dengdeng

    哦(ò)，我(wǒ)在(zài)以前(yǐqián)的(de)公司(gōngsī)门口(ménkǒu)。

    Oh, I'm at the entrance of my old office.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)你(nǐ)现在(xiànzài)快(kuài)过来(guòlái)吧(ba)，我们(wǒmen)要(yào)迟到(chídào)了(le)！

    Then come over quickly now, we're going to be late!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)必(bì)须(xū)要(yào)换(huàn)衣(yī)服(fu)，因(yīn)为(wèi)我(wǒ)现(xiàn)在(zài)穿(chuān)的(de)衣(yī)服(fu)不(bú)适(shì)合(hé)这(zhè)个(ge)环(huán)境(jìng)。

I had to change clothes because what I was wearing wasn't appropriate for the situation.

Tatoeba: Chinese by CLARET · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

要(yào)不(bú)是(shì)他(tā)这(zhè)么(me)磨(mó)磨(mó)蹭(cèng)蹭(cèng)，现(xiàn)在(zài)早(zǎo)做(zuò)完(wán)了(le)。

If he hadn't wasted time, he'd be finished by now.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fercheung · English by darinmex · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
现
xiàn

to appear; present

在
zài

at; in; to be (located) at; (marks an action in progress)

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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