Word
今に
Meaning in Englishsoon, before long, sooner or later
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Related sentences
There are no published items in this section yet.
Word context
What it means
What does 今に mean? It denotes events expected to happen soon; used to set a near-future timeframe and can appear in both casual and formal contexts. It attaches to a clause to signal imminent occurrence.
Main meanings
- near-future timing: events expected to happen in the near future, with a sense of imminence
- anticipatory nuance: can convey mild urgency or expectation about a result or outcome
- register flexibility: usable in everyday speech and writing, sometimes with a slightly literary or old-fashioned tone
How to use it
Used as an adverbial phrase before verbs or clauses; typical contexts include everyday speech and writing; formal to semi-formal registers are also possible; it modifies the action's timing and can appear before the main verb to indicate upcoming events.
Variants and close terms
- すぐに (sugu ni) — soon, immediately
- 近いうちに (chikai uchi ni) — in the near future
- そのうち (sono uchi) — eventually
- 今にも (ima ni mo) — at any moment
Composition
- 今: present moment, the current time
- に: temporal particle indicating the point in time; together they form a phrase conveying action occurring in the near future
Word class
Adverbial phrase (副詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
Kanji