如今
rú jīn · HSK 4
nowadays
如今 = like + now → 'as of now, nowadays'
如 means 'like/as' and 今 means 'now/present'. Together 如今 literally reads 'as-of-now', a slightly formal way to say 'these days' or 'nowadays', often contrasting present with past.
如 — woman radical 女 + mouth 口
Originally a phono-semantic compound where 女 (woman) suggested compliance and 口 (mouth) indicated speaking or following orders. The early sense was 'to follow' or 'to comply with what is said,' which extended to 'to be like' or 'as if.' Modern uses like 'if' and 'such as' grew from this comparative meaning.