Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "This" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "this", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
今朝
けさ (kesa)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
今ごろ
いまごろ (imagoro)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "this" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 今朝 and 今ごろ.
In Japanese, 今朝 (けさ (kesa)) is typically associated with "this morning" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Refers specifically to the current morning. It is almost always used with past tense verbs to describe events that happened earlier in the day..
On the other hand, 今ごろ (いまごろ (imagoro)) maps to "about this time; around now; by now" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to a time point that is 'around now' or 'around that time'. A literal translation of "this" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "今朝"
今朝、早く起きました。
I woke up early this morning.
Bilingual Context for "今ごろ"
今ごろ彼は家に帰っているはずだ。
He should be home by now.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ 、早く起きました。" (Meaning: "I woke up early this morning.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "今朝" fits here because it means "this morning" in the context of: "I woke up early this morning.". "今ごろ" represents "about this time; around now; by now".