今更・いまさら (imasara)
at this late point; now of all moments; past the time when ~ could help
Meaning & usage
今更 marks an action, statement, or change as coming too late to matter. It expresses surprise, complaint, or resignation that something is raised now when the chance to act has passed. It is an adverb placed before a verb phrase, often with ても, ても遅い, or a negative judgment like 仕方がない, 無駄だ, or 遅い. It is common in spoken complaints such as 今更言うの and carries a critical tone, so it is avoided in polite requests.
Example sentences 4
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いまさらあの事故のことで彼を非難しても仕方ない。
It is no use blaming him for the accident now.
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なんで、今更そんなこと言うの？
Why are you only telling me that now?
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今さら考えを変えても遅いよ。
It's too late to change your mind now.
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今更後悔しても無駄だ。
It's no use regretting it now.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 2 past exam questions.
