在…的今天
today, when …; in an age when …
Structure
在 描述当今的定语 的今天 , 主句
What it means
An essay opening, 'today, when …': the modifier sums up how the world has changed, and the main clause says what that means now.
How it is built
在 + description of our times + 的今天,+ main clause: 在信息爆炸的今天,学会选择比学会搜索更重要 (In today's flood of information, choosing matters more than searching).
When to use it
Essays, speeches and opinion pieces, often a plea or a warning. 今天 means 'our times'; 当下 or 时代 can replace it. In speech say 现在…了. 在…之际 marks one occasion, not an age.
Watch out
The 的 cannot be dropped. ✗ 在人人都有手机今天 ✓ 在人人都有手机的今天.
Examples
在随时都能打视频电话的今天,不妨抽空给远方的家人写一封信。
Today, when a video call is always within reach, why not find a moment to write to your family far away?
在人人都有智能手机的今天,纸质地图几乎没人买了。
Now that everyone has a smartphone, hardly anyone buys a paper map.
在信息爆炸的今天,学会选择比学会搜索更重要。
In today’s flood of information, learning to choose matters more than learning to search.
Learn this in Lesson 226 · HSK 9+: 家书 (Letters home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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