今じゃない
ima ja nai
The English phrase "not now" is translated into Japanese as 今じゃない (ima ja nai).
今じゃない is used to express that the current moment is not appropriate for a specific action or conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 今 (ima), meaning 'now' and じゃない (ja nai), meaning 'is not'.
Which one should you use?
You can use the form 今じゃないんだ (ima ja nai n da) to add a nuance of providing an explanation or emphasis to your refusal.
How does it change in a sentence?
今じゃない is in the plain/casual form. The version with the explanatory particle at the end, 今じゃないんだ, is used to provide more emphasis or a sense of explanation.
How do you pronounce it?
ima ja nai
Did you know?
- In high-context Japanese culture, the phrase 今じゃない is often avoided entirely. People may instead say ちょっと (chotto), which literally means 'a little', to imply that the timing is bad without saying 'no' directly.
- If you want to say 'not now' more politely to a superior, you should avoid 今じゃない and instead use 今はちょっと… (ima wa chotto…). This literally means 'Now is a little…', leaving the refusal unfinished to save face.
- While 今 means 'now', Japanese has a separate word 現在 (genzai) for 'the present'. 現在 is used for formal documents or data, while 今 is used for the immediate moment of a conversation.
Examples in context
- 今じゃないんだとしたら、いつなのよ？If not now, then when?This sentence is useful for showing how to express the idea of "If not now, then when?" using 今じゃない.Tatoeba #9919812 by bunbuku, translation #1256992 by CK
- 今はちょっと都合が悪いです。I'm sorry, but it's inconvenient right now.
- 今はちょっとダメだよ。It's not good right now.
- 今は時間ないんだ。I don't have time now.
- 今は無理ですIt's impossible right now.
- 今は話せない、今じゃない。Ima wa hanasenai, ima janai.I can't talk right now, it's not the right time.
Example conversation
Ren is busy working and Himari tries to talk to him.
- 陽葵 Himariねえ、ちょっと話せる？Nee, chotto hanaseru?Hey, can we talk for a bit?
- 蓮 Renごめん、今じゃないんだ。Gomen, ima janai nda.Sorry, it's not the right time.
- 陽葵 Himariそんなに忙しいの？Sonna ni isogashii no?Are you that busy?
- 蓮 Renうん、今は無理だよ。Un, ima wa muri da yo.Yeah, I can't do it right now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
