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現在

简现在 · 繁現在

Mandarin · pinyin xiàn zài

now; at present; currently

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Characters in this entry

現: xiàn · appear, manifest, become visible
在: zài · be at, in, on; consist in, rest
现: xiàn · appear, manifest, become visible

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4 · xian4 zai4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

現在 · find source passages ↗ · 现在 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 5 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jin6 zoi6

Cantonese word readings for 現在. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

now; the present time; the present moment; the current time
(literary) this life; this world

verb

(literary) to remain; to still exist
(literary) to be alive
(formal) to be currently at; to be currently in

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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