N4 Tango 1500

たった今

just (now) - vừa mới, mới tức thì

今にも

at any time, at any moment (If you say that something will or may happen at any moment or any moment now, you are emphasizing that it is likely to happen very soon.)

もうすぐ

soon - sắp

最近

• recently, lately (used to describe both situations and actions)

• Time range: Very flexible: last few days → few weeks → few months

• Can describe: events (one-time), ongoing states

• More general and more common than このごろ.

=>Most general “recently.” Can be past event OR ongoing habit.
さいきん日本語を勉強しています。

I’ve been studying Japanese recently. (ongoing)

さいきん映画を見た。

I watched a movie recently. (one event)

さいきん

この頃

• recently, these days, lately (used to describe a situation, not actions)

• Time range: Recent period continuing until now

• Usually used for ongoing situations, not a single event.

=>Ongoing “nowadays” feeling. (Habit or continuing state)

このごろ忙しい。
I’m busy these days.

このごろ寒くなってきた。
It’s been getting colder these days.

このごろ

さっき

• just now, a while ago, a little while ago - lúc nãy (Usually within the last few minutes, maybe up to 1 hour maximum depending on context.)

• Grammar: adverb (no particle needed)

=>very recent past

さっき帰った。
He went home just now.

さっき見ました。
I saw it a moment ago.

この間

• the other day, recently, some time ago (Usually the past few days, weeks, or even months (but not years).)

• Grammar: noun phrase → often with の

=>Recently in the past but not as recent as さっき.
このあいだ会った。

We met the other day.

このあいだのテストは難しかった。

The test the other day was difficult.

このあいだ

今度

this time/now, next time/next
こんど

いつでも

any time

いつか

some time, some day

５日

the fifth day
いつか

将来

future: talking ab an individual’s future
しょうらい

未来

future: talking ab the future on a wider scale of things like countries or the planet.
みらい

昔

past, a long time ago
むかし

昔話

folk tale, legend - truyện cổ tích
むかしばなし

ある日

one day - một ngày nọ
あるひ

ある時

one time, at a given time
あるとき

ある人

a (given) person - một người nọ
あるひと

ある町

a (given) town/city - một thành phố nọ
あるまち

ある国

a (given) country
あるくに

昼間

daytime, day
ひるま

夕方

evening
ゆうがた

夜中

late night - đêm, khuya
よなか

真夜中

late at night - nửa đêm
まよなか

明日

tomorrow (read as asu in a business context, as ashita in general conversation)
あす/あした

一昨日

2 days go, the day before yesterday - hôm kia, ngày kia

おととい/おとつい/いっさくじつ

昨夜＝昨日の晩、昨日の夜

evening, last night - tối hôm qua

さくや: dùng trong văn viết, lịch sự

(夕べ=昨夜) ゆうべ: giao tiếp hàng ngày, suồng sã

ゆうべ/さくや/ゆんべ/よべ＝きのうのばん、きのうのよる

今夜＝今晩

tonight
こんや＝こんばん

今週

this week
こんしゅう

今月

this month
こんげつ

再来週

2 weeks later, the week after next
さらいしゅう

再来月

2 months later
さらいげつ

再来年

2 years later
さらいねん

一昨年

2 years ago, the year before last
おととし/いっさくねん

毎週

every week
まいしゅう

毎月

every month 
まいつき

毎年

every year
まいとし

平日

weekday (monday to friday) - ngày thường
へいじつ

週末

weekend
しゅうまつ

最初

first - trước tiên, lúc đầu

Meaning: “the beginning,” “the first,” “at first”

It refers to the starting point of something.

Grammar:

• Noun (can take の → 最初の)

• Adverb (最初は)

Examples:

• 最初は難しい。
  At first, it’s difficult.

• 最初のページを読んでください。
  Please read the first page.

• 最初に会ったとき…
  When we first met…

👉 Used for the first step or the beginning of a sequence.

さいしょ

最中

in the middle (of doing~) - giữa chừng, trong lúc
さいちゅう

最後

last
さいご

先に

first, before, ahead (of) - (làm gì đó) trước

Meaning: “before someone,” “ahead,” “go first,” “already”

It refers to doing something earlier than someone else or ahead in time.

Grammar: adverb

Examples:

• 先に行ってください。
  Please go ahead (before me).

• 先に食べて。
  Eat first (without waiting for me).

• もう先に帰ったよ。
  He already went home ahead of us.

👉 Used to express “go first,” “before someone else,” or “ahead.”

さきに