Meaning

Primary

Until Now

Alternatives

Up To Now, So Far

Word Type

adverb

Explanation

You know that means now. What you probably don't know is that まで means "until." So, this word means until now.

Reading

いままで
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for this word is the kun'yomi reading which you learned previously when you learned the vocab word . You can tell this is a kun'yomi reading because it has hiragana attached. So if you know that, you should be able to read this word as well.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 今まで知らなかった

    to not have known something until now

    今まで見たことがない

    to never have seen something before

    今までやってきた

    to be done by now

Context Sentences

今まで何をしていたんですか。

What have you been doing until now?

コウイチが今まで付きあったかの女は百万人に上るが、ようやく一人の女の人におちつきつつある。

Koichi had a million girlfriends up until now, but he is finally about to settle down with one woman.

お前が今までの中では一番の彼女だよ。

You are the best girlfriend I’ve had so far.

Kanji Composition