今日

きょう

today, this day

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Usage of 今日 (jīnrì)

'今日' means 'today' and is a formal or literary way to refer to the current day. It is often used in written language, news reports, formal announcements, and sometimes in spoken language for emphasis or style.

Common contexts

  • Talking about the current date in formal or official contexts.
  • Announcing events or schedules happening today.
  • Reporting news or information relevant to the current day.

Collocations and patterns

Notes

While '今日' is interchangeable with '今天' in many cases, '今天' is more common in everyday spoken Mandarin. '今日' carries a slightly more formal or literary tone. Avoid confusing '今日' with '' (míngrì, tomorrow) or '' (zuórì, yesterday).

Use '今日' when you want to sound more formal or when writing news, announcements, or formal invitations.

Example Sentences

Today's weather is very nice, perfect for going out for a walk.

We have a meeting at 3 PM today, please attend on time.

Today's news reported many important events.