Now Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

now

adverb

快速理解

What does "Now" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Now"?

「now」主要表示當下的時間點,也可用於表達邏輯順序或語氣轉折。

  1. 1

    此刻、現在

    EN: at the present time

    翻譯: 指說話的當下或當前時刻。

  2. 2

    立即、馬上

    EN: immediately

    翻譯: 表示緊接著、沒有延遲地做某事。

  3. 3

    用於引導陳述或指示

    EN: used to introduce a statement or instruction

    翻譯: 用於開始說話、引起注意,或轉換話題與語氣。

  4. 4

    既然、由於

    EN: since or because of the fact that

    翻譯: 用於表達因果關係,說明已知的情況。

小提醒:注意「now」在「now that...」句型中表示「既然…」,是連接詞用法,而非單純指「現在」。

發音(How to Pronounce "Now" in English

How to pronounce "Now" in English?"Now" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "Now" from YouTube Videos

South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News

BBC News

It comes as South Korea's president Lie Jay Mung has told the BBC that he'd accept a deal with North Korea under which Pyongyang would freeze nuclear weapon production for now, rather than get rid of them altogether.

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Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "Now"?How does "Now" change by context?

1. at the present time

現在,此刻

I am busy right now.

我現在正忙著。

What are you doing now?

你現在在做什麼?

He should be home by now.

他現在應該到家了。

2. immediately

立刻,馬上

We need to leave now.

我們需要馬上離開。

Stop that right now!

立刻停止!

Do it now, not later.

現在就做,不要等以後。

3. used to introduce a statement or question

用於引出陳述或問題

Now, let's move on to the next topic.

現在,我們來談下一個主題。

Now, what was I saying?

那麼,我剛才說到哪了?

Now, that's a good idea.

嗯,那是個好主意。

4. used in stories to mean 'at that time'

用於故事中,表示『那時』

The train was now approaching the station.

火車那時正駛近車站。

He now realized his mistake.

他當時意識到了自己的錯誤。

5. since or because

既然,由於

Now that you're here, we can start.

既然你來了,我們可以開始了。

Now you mention it, I do remember.

既然你提起,我確實想起來了。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "Now"?How to make natural sentences with "Now"?
PatternMeaningExample
now現在、此刻I am busy now. (我現在很忙。)
right now就在此刻、馬上I need to speak to you right now. (我現在就需要跟你談話。)
just now剛剛、方才She left just now. (她剛剛離開。)
from now on從現在開始From now on, I will exercise every day. (從現在開始,我會每天運動。)
now that + clause既然…Now that you are here, we can start the meeting. (既然你到了,我們可以開始會議了。)
up to now / until now到目前為止Up to now, everything has gone smoothly. (到目前為止,一切都很順利。)
any day/time now隨時、這幾天內The baby could arrive any day now. (寶寶隨時都可能出生。)
now and then / now and again偶爾、有時I like to visit the old town now and then. (我偶爾喜歡去拜訪那個老城鎮。)

用法說明

How is "Now" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Now"?

now 與 now that 的用法

  • now 單獨使用時,通常表示「現在、此刻」的時間點,或作為語氣轉折詞。
  • now that 是一個連接詞片語,用於引導一個原因或時間狀語子句,意思是「既然、由於」。它強調的是因為某個新情況或事實,而導致了主句的結果。
  • 簡單來說,now 側重「當下」;now that 側重「因為當下的這個情況」。

對比例句: EN: I understand the situation now. 翻譯: 我現在明白情況了。

EN:Now that you've explained it, I understand the situation.

翻譯:既然你解釋過了,我現在明白情況了。

EN:We should leave now.

翻譯:我們現在應該離開了。

EN:Now that the rain has stopped, we can leave.

翻譯:既然雨停了,我們可以離開了。

總結建議

使用 now that 來表達「因為某個新發生的狀況」,而不僅僅是描述時間上的「現在」。

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "Now" and similar words?How to choose "Now" vs alternatives?

now vs currently

「now」強調說話的當下瞬間,語氣較強烈;「currently」則描述一個正在進行的狀態或時期,語氣較正式、客觀。

now vs presently

「now」指明確的現在;「presently」在美式英語中常指「不久後」,在英式英語中可指「現在」,但較正式或略帶古風。

now vs at the moment

「now」用法廣泛,可指此刻或立即;「at the moment」特指「在說話的這個特定時刻」,常強調暫時性。

口語用法

How is "Now" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Now"?

引述

用於引述或重述剛聽到的話,表示「剛剛說的是...」。 EN: A: "I think we should leave." B: "Now, you said we should leave?" 翻譯: A: "我覺得我們該走了。" B: "等等,你剛剛是說我們該走了?"

EN:So now you're telling me the meeting was cancelled yesterday?

翻譯:所以你現在才告訴我會議昨天就取消了?

語氣強調

用於加強語氣,表達不滿、驚訝或轉折,常與其他詞語結合。 EN: Now look what you've done! 翻譯: 你看看你現在搞成什麼樣子!

EN:Now that's a completely different story.

翻譯:喔,那現在情況就完全不同了。

停頓填充

在思考或組織語句時用作填充詞,類似「嗯」、「那個」。 EN: The solution, now... let me think... might be in the manual. 翻譯: 解決辦法嘛,嗯...讓我想想...可能在手冊裡。

EN:I was going to the store, now, and then I saw her.

翻譯:我那時正要去商店,然後呢,就看到了她。

正式寫作注意:在正式書面語(如學術論文、商業報告)中,應避免將 "now" 用作上述口語中的填充詞或語氣詞,以保持文體的嚴謹性。

常見短語

What common collocations use "Now"?What fixed phrases with "Now" should I remember?

right now

adverb phrase

此時此刻;馬上

as of now

prepositional phrase

從現在起;截至目前

now and then

adverbial phrase

偶爾;有時

now or never

idiomatic phrase

機不可失;現在不做就永遠沒機會

by now

prepositional phrase

到現在;至此

just now

adverb phrase

剛才;此刻

from now on

prepositional phrase

從今以後

now that

conjunction

既然;由於

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "Now"?Which "Now" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×I now thought it was a good idea.

I actually thought it was a good idea.

「now」通常不表示「實際上」或「事實上」的意思。當要表達與預期或表面情況不同的事實時,應使用「actually」。

×He is now working in Taipei.

He is currently working in Taipei.

描述一個持續進行的狀態或現階段的情況時,使用「currently」比「now」更自然、更正式。「now」更強調「此時此刻」的瞬間。

×Last year, I now live in Kaohsiung.

Last year, I lived in Kaohsiung.

在描述過去的事件或狀態時,不能使用「now」。「now」僅指現在或說話的當下。描述過去應用過去式。

×I finished my homework, now I can watch TV.

I finished my homework, so now I can watch TV.

在英文中,「now」單獨不能作為連接詞使用來表達因果關係。需要加上「so」或使用其他結構(如「Now that...」)來連接兩個子句。

×I am now understanding the problem.

I now understand the problem.

「now」已經表達了「現在」的時間點,與其搭配的動詞通常使用簡單式,而非進行式,除非強調動作正在轉變或進行中。許多狀態動詞(如 understand, know, like)通常不用進行式。

×I have lived here since now.

I have lived here up to now. / I have been living here since 2020.

「since」後面必須接一個過去的特定時間點,不能接「now」。要表達「直到現在」,可以使用「up to now」、「until now」或「so far」。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "Now"?What are tense/participle forms of "Now"?
now 在英語中是什麼意思?