现 xiàn — appear; present; now; existing; current
现在是下午三点。Xiàn zài shì xià wǔ sān diǎn.It is now three in the afternoon.
Common words: 现在 (xiàn zài)、发现 (fā xiàn)、出现 (chū xiàn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "present"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "present", including 现 (xiàn), 今 (jīn), 仪 (yí). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "present" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 现 (xiàn), 今 (jīn), 仪 (yí) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiàn, jīn, yí — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 现 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 现 xiànappear; present; now; existing; currentUseful words: 现在, 发现
- 今 jīntoday; modern; present; current; this; nowUseful words: 今天, 今年
- 仪 yíapparatus; rites; appearance; present; ceremonyUseful words: 仪式, 仪器
Common words for these 3 "present" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 现 (xiàn) — so "present" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
现在xiàn zàinow; at present; currently发现fā xiànto notice; to become aware of; to discover; to find出现chū xiànto appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up今天jīn tiāntoday; the present time; now今年jīn niánthis year今后jīn hòuhereafter; henceforth; in the future; from now on仪式yí shìceremony仪器yí qìinstrument; apparatus礼仪lǐ yíetiquette; ceremony
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "present".
今 jīn — today; modern; present; current; this; now
今天是个特别的日子。Jīn tiān shì ge tè bié de rì zi.Today is a special day.
Common words: 今天 (jīn tiān)、今年 (jīn nián)、今后 (jīn hòu)
仪 yí — apparatus; rites; appearance; present; ceremony
开学典礼的仪式十分隆重。Kāi xué diǎn lǐ de yí shì shí fēn lóng zhòng.The opening ceremony was very grand.
Common words: 仪式 (yí shì)、仪器 (yí qì)、礼仪 (lǐ yí)
All 3 characters
Open 现、今、仪 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.