41962
I was trying to understand 今はただ, which I eventually concluded must mean: _just
now_. I explain it to myself as ただ emphasises the noun _now_ , as _only_ or
_just one_. Is this correct?

While on it, I came across: ただ今, which appears to have the same literal
meaning.

Do these two statements mean exactly the same thing or are there any
differences in meaning or use?
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2016-12-25T00:53:53.040
41959
2016-12-25T02:30:26.857
2016-12-25T01:11:07.883
19182
19182
question
word-choice
Meaning of ただ in conjunction with 今
ただ今 is a single formal word that means _(just) now_ , _(at) present_ , _(very)
soon_ , etc. It works as a noun and as a standalone adverb without any
particle.

>   * ただ今より会議を開始します。(formal)  
>  Now we start the meeting.
>   * 彼はただ今参りますので、少々お待ち下さい。(formal)  
>  He will come (very) soon, please wait for a moment.
>

今はただ is three words (今 + は + ただ), and there's nothing idiomatic. 今は means _(as
for) now_ , and ただ means _just_ , _only_ , _merely_ , etc. For example,

>   * 今はただこの写真が残っているだけだ。  
>  Now only this photo remains (everything else is lost).
>   * 今はただ眠りたい。  
>  I just want to sleep for now.
>

Note that ただ in 今はただ is an adverb that modifies something different than 今
(usually a following verb).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-25T02:19:21.737
41962
2016-12-25T02:30:26.857
2016-12-25T02:30:26.857
5010
5010
41959
answer