……
Usages of ima
私 は 箸 が 全然 使えなかった けど、 今 は すごく 上手 だ。watasi ha hasi ga zenzen tukaenakatta kedo, ima ha sugoku zyouzu da.
I couldn’t use chopsticks at all before, but now I’m very good.
今 は 忙しい です から、 後 で 電話 を します。ima ha isogasii desu kara, ato de denwa wo simasu.
I am busy now, so I will call later.
その 部活 の 先輩 は 厳しかった が、 今 思えば 兄たち は よく 練習させられて 強く なった と 思う。sono bukatu no senpai ha kibisikatta ga, ima omoeba anitati ha yoku rensyuusaserarete tuyoku natta to omou.
The seniors in that club were strict, but looking back, I think my brother and his teammates were made to practice a lot and became strong.
今 は、 生徒 全員 が 順番 で 掃除 を して いて、 昔 より ずっと 平等 に なった と 感じる。ima ha, seito zenin ga zyunban de souzi wo site ite, mukasi yori zutto byoudou ni natta to kanziru.
Now all the students take turns cleaning, and I feel it has become much more equal than before.
昔 は すぐ 怒って いました が、 今 は 我慢すること を 覚えて きました。mukasi ha sugu okotte imasita ga, ima ha gamansurukoto wo oboete kimasita.
In the past I got angry right away, but now I’ve learned to hold back.
別れた 相手 に して は、 今 でも 時々 連絡 が 来る ので 少し 不思議 です。wakareta aite ni site ha, ima demo tokidoki renraku ga kuru node sukosi husigi desu.
For someone I broke up with, it’s a bit strange that they still contact me sometimes.
才能 が ない と 思って いた ピアノ も、 毎日 続ければ もっと 上手 に なれた かも しれない と 今 に なって 思います。sainou ga nai to omotte ita piano mo, mainiti tudukereba motto zyouzu ni nareta kamo sirenai to ima ni natte omoimasu.
I now think that even with piano, which I believed I had no talent for, I might have become better if I had kept at it every day.
Test yourself: What does ima mean?
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning JapaneseMaster Japanese — from ima to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions