今仔日
kin-á-ji̍t
The Hokkien word for today is 今仔日 (kin-á-ji̍t).
今仔日 is used as an adverb to refer to the current day.
Meaning: on the current day (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 今 (current/now), 仔 (a diminutive suffix) and 日 (day).
How do you pronounce it?
kin-á-ji̍t
Did you know?
- Because 今仔日 uses the diminutive 仔, the phrase can sometimes feel more colloquial or 'soft' compared to the more formal literary reading of the characters.
- Because Hokkien is heavily influenced by its historical connection to the Southern Min regions, the way you say 'today' can vary slightly in tone and cadence between Taiwan and parts of Fujian.
- If you were to say 'yesterday', you would use 昨 (past) to form 昨仔日, maintaining the same rhythmic pattern as 今仔日.
Examples in context
- 今仔日是我的生日。Today is my birthday.This sentence shows how to use 今仔日 to state that today is one's birthday.Tatoeba #14034476 by LeviHighway, translation #985108 by riccioberto
- 今仔日天氣真好。kim-á-jit thian-khì chin hó.The weather is very good today.
- 你今仔日有事無？lí kim-á-jit ū sū bô?Do you have anything to do today?
Example conversation
Zhiming and Jiayi are talking about their plans.
- 志明 Chi-ming佳怡，今仔日你有空無？Ka-í, kim-á-ji̍t lí ū khàng bô?Jiayi, are you free today?
- 佳怡 Chia-yi我今仔日真忙。góa kim-á-ji̍t chin bâng.I am very busy today.
- 志明 Chi-ming你想欲去食晚餐無？lí siáng-beh khì jia̍h uán-tshian bô?Do you want to go have dinner?
- 佳怡 Chia-yi對不起，我袂得。tuì-put-khí, góa bē-tit.Sorry, I can't.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
