今天

The present day, today, the immediate 24-hour cycle we are living right now.

今 (present) + 天 (day/sky). It sets the temporal stage for the dramatic turning point in the story.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 今天外边太冷了 — it is so cold outside today
  • 我做饭今天 我今天做饭

    Time words cannot trail at the end of Chinese sentences.

Where does 今天 sit in a sentence? Can it go at the very end?

Never at the very end! Time words must go before the verb or before the subject.

Saying "我给你做面条今天" is an English word-order mistake. You must say "今天我给你做热面条".

Appears in Stories 19 stories

Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.

《是不是好朋友?》 (Are We Good Friends? A Dinner Debate) HSK 1
~4 min read 254 chars
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In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.

  • 我们四个人, 今天 的饭钱,是不是中国一半、英国一半?”

  • 我说:” 今天 谢大中不想和我做好朋友了。

《很贵的苹果》 (The Expensive Apples) HSK 1
~2 min read 137 chars
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This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.

  • 今天 白天的时候,我去我家这边的超市买东西。

《这样子好吗?》 (The Clever Child Who Asked for More) HSK 2
~3 min read 189 chars
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In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.

  • 昨天你找我要五块钱, 今天 你再要五块钱,明天是不是还要再要五块钱。

  • 那,你 今天 给我一百块钱吧“!

《你也在想我吗》 (Do You Miss Me Too?) HSK 1
~2 min read 128 chars
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This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.

  • 今天 ,你那里下雨了吗?

  • 我想对你说: 今天 ,我很想你。

《成语0001:东山再起》 (The Comeback: From Eastern Mountain to Success) HSK 7
~5 min read 589 chars
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Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.

  • 故事发生在距离 今天 大约1700年的东晋时代。

  • 但谢安不想做官,多次拒绝了朝廷的邀请,就住在会稽的东山( 今天 的浙江省会稽山),和朋友一起游玩。

《友好的高友朋》 (A Friendly New Friend at Work) HSK 2
~4 min read 243 chars
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Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.

  • 今天 是我到中为公司工作的第五天。

  • 今天 我认识了一个新朋友,真高兴。

《热面条》 (Hot Noodles on a Cold Night) HSK 1
~5 min read 399 chars
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Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.

  • 今天 外边太冷了,我给你做热面条。”

  • 今天 ,面条里有两个大鸡蛋。

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