现在
HSK 1 (exam 2025)HSK 1 (2021)Old HSK 1
现在 (xiànzài) · now
现在 (xiànzài) means “now”. It is written with 2 characters: 现 (to appear) + 在 (at). It is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 现在 is built
The characters
现 xiàn · to appear
What 现 is made of
- 王wáng — king
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 见jiàn — to see
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 儿ér — child
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: To see 见 jade 王; 见 also provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
在 zài · at
What 在 is made of
- 才cái — ability
- 扌shǒu — hand
- 二 — two strokes
- 亅 — hook
- 扌shǒu — hand
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
Origin hint: 土 gives the meaning, 才 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
现在几点了？Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?What time is it now?
我现在很忙。Wǒ xiànzài hěn máng.I'm very busy now.
Questions about 现在
What does 现在 mean?
现在 (xiànzài) means “now”.
How do you pronounce 现在?
现在 is pronounced xiànzài.
Which HSK level is 现在?
现在 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 1.
Related words
- 出现chūxiànto appear
- 发现fāxiànto find
- 实现shíxiànto realize
- 表现biǎoxiànto perform
- 体现tǐxiànto reflect
- 现场xiànchǎngscene
- 现代xiàndàimodern
- 现金xiànjīncash
- 现实xiànshíreality
- 现象xiànxiàngphenomenon
Learn 现在 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 7: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.