Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
今天jīntiān(jin1tian1)
今天 (jīn tiān) means 'today' and is used to refer to the current day. It is commonly used in conversations related to plans, events, or activities happening on the present day.
Frequency#174DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'today' emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and making the most of the present, which is often reflected in proverbs and sayings.
Memory Tip
Imagine you are standing on a calendar, and above you, the sun is shining brightly, symbolizing 'today'. The character '今' looks like a person with arms raised in the present moment, while '天' represents the sky, reinforcing the idea of the current day.
Meanings of 今天
jīntiān(jin1tian1)
1today
2at the present
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 今天
今天Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#174Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 今天
Podcast: 今天
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 今天
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine you are standing on a calendar, and above you, the sun is shining brightly, symbolizing 'today'. The character '今' looks like a person with arms raised in the present moment, while '天' represents the sky, reinforcing the idea of the current day.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 今天 with 明天 (míng tiān, 'tomorrow') or 昨天 (zuó tiān, 'yesterday'). It's important to use 今天 when discussing events that occur on the present day. The tone should be pronounced clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 今天 connects to other basic time-related words like 明天 and 昨天. Students should practice using today in sentences to build fluency in everyday discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'today' emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and making the most of the present, which is often reflected in proverbs and sayings.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 今天 when they mean to say 明天, such as saying '今天我去工作' (jīn tiān wǒ qù gōngzuò) when they actually mean 'tomorrow'. Always remember to check the context of your sentence.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 今天
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 今天 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 今天 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 今天
今天 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
The US dollar continued its strong performance in Tokyo today.
10
首相在今天的会议开始之前作了发言。
shǒu xiāng zài jīn tiān de huì yì kāi shǐ zhī qián zuò le fā yán。
The Prime Minister was speaking ahead of today's meeting.
Cultural Notes for 今天
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'today' emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and making the most of the present, which is often reflected in proverbs and sayings.
Frequently Asked Questions about 今天
You can say '今天我去商店' (jīn tiān wǒ qù shāngdiàn) meaning 'Today I am going to the store.'
Yes, 今天 can be used in both formal and informal conversations, making it a versatile term.
The opposite is 昨天 (zuó tiān), which means 'yesterday'.
