Usage of 至今
The phrase 至今 (zhì jīn) means "up to now" or "so far," indicating a state or action continuing until the present moment. It is often used to emphasize that something has persisted or remained unchanged until now.
Common contexts
It frequently appears in formal or written Chinese, such as news reports, academic writing, or official statements, but is also common in everyday speech when stressing duration.
Collocations and patterns
- 至今还 (zhì jīn hái): emphasizes that something still continues, e.g., "至今还没有" (still haven't).
- 至今为止 (zhì jīn wéizhǐ): a fixed phrase meaning "up to now," often used to summarize progress or status.
- 至今仍 (zhì jīn réng): highlights that something remains true or valid until now.
Nuances
Using 至今 implies a focus on the continuity or persistence of a situation. It differs from simpler time words like 现在 (now) by stressing the duration from past to present. Avoid confusing it with 直到 (until), which marks an endpoint rather than a continuing state.
Summary
至今 is a useful temporal adverb to express "up to the present moment," especially when highlighting ongoing conditions or the lack of change over time.