Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

It's too late to compliment my outfit with 今更

Vocabulary Explanation: After all this time with 今更

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of It's too late to compliment my outfit with 今更.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 4 » Page 46

Ayumu heavily compliments Urushi on her looks wearing a sweater that’s a little too big. He quietly congratulates himself, and when Urushi questions him on it, Ayumu explains that he’s regretted his inability to find the words to compliment her outfit during their New Year’s shrine visit.

歩(あゆむ):
「今(いま)なら初詣(はつもうで)の時(とき)のもうまく言(い)えます。どうですか」
“I can properly say it now for the New Year's shrine visit. How about it?”
うるし:
「い　いいよ。　今(いま)さら…！！」
“It's okay. It's too late!”

Key Points

  1. 今(いま)さら means too late at this point

    • 今(いま)さら marks something as coming after the proper timing has already passed.

    • Urushi means a delayed compliment about the shrine-visit outfit would no longer land the way it should have then.

  2. いいよ declines the offer

    • In this context いいよ means “it’s okay” as a refusal, not enthusiastic approval.

    • Urushi is embarrassed and trying to stop Ayumu from continuing.

  3. 今(いま)なら contrasts now with 初詣(はつもうで)の時(とき)

    • Ayumu says he could express the compliment properly now.

    • That contrast sets up Urushi’s 今(いま)さら, because the relevant moment was the New Year’s shrine visit.

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