Hello, I’m Kodak.
もう (mō) and まだ (mada) are short words, but they can express four different English ideas:
I already ate.
まだ食べている。
I am still eating.
まだ食べていない。
I have not eaten yet.
もう食べない。
I will not eat anymore.
Instead of memorizing four unrelated translations, think about a change point on a timeline.
The expected change has happened, or the speaker is now on the other side of a boundary.
まだ
The expected change has not happened, so the earlier state continues.
In this article, you will learn:
② how positive and negative sentences change their English meaning
③ how to ask and answer もう～ましたか
④ how to use them with verbs, adjectives, and nouns
⑤ the difference between もうない and まだない
⑥ common expressions such as もうすぐ, もう一度, もういい, and まだまだ
⑦ natural examples, common mistakes, and anime-style dialogue
Mou vs Mada: The Quick Answer
already
もう + negative
no longer / not anymore
まだ + affirmative
still
まだ + negative
not yet
After you understand it, we can add the other meanings of もう, such as soon, one more, and enough already.
The Core Image: Before and After an Expected Change
Imagine that dinner is the change point.
まだ食べていない。
I have not eaten yet.
↓
━━━━━━━━ eat dinner ━━━━━━━━
↓
After eating
もう食べた。
I already ate.
まだ places the situation before the expected change. もう places it after the change.
Has the expected change happened?
Yes ⇒ もう
No ⇒ まだ
The Japan Foundation explains the basic contrast in the same way: もう marks an action as completed or a change as having occurred, while まだ marks an action as incomplete or an earlier state as continuing.
What Does もう (Mou) Mean?
The main beginner meaning of もう is that a change or completion has already occurred.
・already
・now already
・no longer / not anymore, with a negative form
・soon / almost, in some sentences
・one more / a little more, before quantities
宿題はもう終わりました。
Shukudai wa mō owarimashita.
I have already finished my homework.
彼はもう子どもではない。
Kare wa mō kodomo de wa nai.
He is no longer a child.
もう春です。
Mō haru desu.
It is already spring.
“It has happened now.”
“We are already at this stage.”
“The previous state is over.”
What Does まだ (Mada) Mean?
The main beginner meaning of まだ is that the expected change has not happened and the earlier situation remains.
・still, with an affirmative sentence
・not yet, with a negative sentence
・there is still more
・the present condition has not changed
彼はまだ学生です。
Kare wa mada gakusei desu.
He is still a student.
宿題はまだ終わっていません。
Shukudai wa mada owatte imasen.
I have not finished my homework yet.
時間はまだあります。
Jikan wa mada arimasu.
There is still time.
まだ来ていない usually suggests that the person may or should come later.
However, the exact expectation depends on context and tone.
How to Pronounce and Write もう and まだ
Hiragana: もう
Romaji: mō or mou
Mora: も・う (2 morae)
Pronunciation: a long “mo” sound
まだ
Hiragana: まだ
Romaji: mada
Mora: ま・だ (2 morae)
Hold the o for two morae. Do not shorten it to a one-mora mo.
Do もう and まだ Have Kanji?
Both words are normally written in hiragana.
もう
まだ
Possible but uncommon/literary writing:
未だ — まだ or いまだ
Important:
Do not write everyday もう as 最早. 最早 is normally read もはや, a more formal word meaning “already” or “no longer.”
もう + Affirmative: “Already”
Use もう with an affirmative verb when an action has been completed.
already did / has already done
もう昼ごはんを食べました。
Mō hirugohan o tabemashita.
I already ate lunch.
電車はもう出ました。
Densha wa mō demashita.
The train has already left.
その映画はもう見た。
Sono eiga wa mō mita.
I have already seen that movie.
もう plus the completed form tells us the action is complete by the current reference time.
もう + Noun or Adjective: The New State Has Arrived
もう十二時です。
Mō jūni-ji desu.
It is already twelve o’clock.
外はもう暗い。
Soto wa mō kurai.
It is already dark outside.
妹はもう大学生です。
Imōto wa mō daigakusei desu.
My younger sister is already a university student.
In each sentence, the speaker presents the current situation as being on the new side of a change.
まだ + Affirmative: “Still”
Use まだ with an affirmative form when the earlier state continues.
still is / still does / still exists
彼はまだ寝ています。
Kare wa mada nete imasu.
He is still sleeping.
外はまだ明るい。
Soto wa mada akarui.
It is still light outside.
妹はまだ高校生です。
Imōto wa mada kōkōsei desu.
My younger sister is still a high school student.
冷蔵庫に牛乳がまだあります。
Reizōko ni gyūnyū ga mada arimasu.
There is still some milk in the refrigerator.
まだ時間がある can feel reassuring: “We still have time.”
まだ終わらない can feel frustrating: “It still won’t end.”
まだ + Negative: “Not Yet”
Use まだ with a negative form when an expected action or change has not happened.
have not done yet / is not yet / has not happened yet
まだ食べていません。
Mada tabete imasen.
I have not eaten yet.
バスはまだ来ていない。
Basu wa mada kite inai.
The bus has not arrived yet.
答えはまだ分かりません。
Kotae wa mada wakarimasen.
I do not know the answer yet.
For “I have not eaten yet,” use まだ食べていません or casual まだ食べてない.
まだ食べません more naturally means “I will not eat yet.”
I have not eaten yet.
⇒ The meal has not happened.
まだ食べない。
I will not eat yet.
⇒ The speaker plans to wait before eating.
もう + Negative: “No Longer” or “Not Anymore”
When もう is followed by a negative expression, it usually means the former situation has ended.
no longer / not anymore / never again
もう学生ではありません。
Mō gakusei de wa arimasen.
I am no longer a student.
彼はもうここに住んでいない。
Kare wa mō koko ni sunde inai.
He no longer lives here.
もうお酒は飲みません。
Mō osake wa nomimasen.
I do not drink alcohol anymore / I will not drink alcohol again.
まだ食べない ⇒ I will not eat yet, but I may eat later.
もう食べない ⇒ I will not eat anymore; I am stopping.
I am not going home yet.
⇒ The person will probably go home later.
もう帰らない。
I will not go home anymore / I am never going back.
⇒ Returning is rejected or has ended.
The Four Basic Patterns in One Situation
Imagine a student doing homework.
I already finished.
⇒ The completion point has been crossed.
2. まだやっている。
I am still working on it.
⇒ The activity continues.
3. まだ終わっていない。
I have not finished yet.
⇒ Completion has not happened.
4. もうやらない。
I will not do it anymore.
⇒ The activity has been stopped or rejected.
That is what changes already into not anymore, and still into not yet.
How to Ask “Have You Done It Yet?”
The standard beginner pattern is:
Have you already done it?
Have you done it yet?
もう昼ごはんを食べましたか。
Mō hirugohan o tabemashita ka.
Have you eaten lunch yet?
もうレポートを出しましたか。
Mō repōto o dashimashita ka.
Have you submitted the report yet?
もう日本に行きましたか。
Mō Nihon ni ikimashita ka.
Have you been to Japan yet?
English naturally phrases the same neutral question with “yet.”
How to Answer もう～ましたか
Have you eaten yet?
B: はい、もう食べました。
Yes, I already ate.
B: いいえ、まだです。
No, not yet.
B: いいえ、まだ食べていません。
No, I have not eaten yet.
まだ。 — Not yet.
The polite short answer is まだです. A full answer is まだ食べていません.
もうある vs まだある vs もうない vs まだない
The verb ある makes the four-way contrast especially clear.
It is already there / We have it now.
まだある。
There is still some / It still exists.
もうない。
There is no more / It no longer exists.
まだない。
It is not there yet / We do not have it yet.
The new product is already available.
古い商品もまだあります。
The old product is still available too.
限定商品はもうありません。
The limited-edition product is no longer available.
来月の商品はまだありません。
Next month’s product is not available yet.
もう～ている vs まだ～ている
Both can appear before the continuing form ～ている, but the viewpoint is different.
The new action or state has already begun.
まだ～ている
The same action or state is continuing longer than expected or up to now.
彼はもう寝ている。
Kare wa mō nete iru.
He is already asleep.
彼はまだ寝ている。
Kare wa mada nete iru.
He is still sleeping.
もう寝ている looks at the change from awake to asleep.
まだ寝ている looks at the unchanged sleeping state.
The baby is already walking.
⇒ Walking has begun earlier or sooner than the speaker’s reference point.
赤ちゃんはまだ歩いている。
The baby is still walking.
⇒ The walking activity continues.
もう～た vs まだ～ている: Finished or Still in Progress
The action is complete.
まだ + ている form
The action is still in progress.
私はもう食べた。
Watashi wa mō tabeta.
I already ate.
弟はまだ食べている。
Otōto wa mada tabete iru.
My younger brother is still eating.
映画はもう終わった。
Eiga wa mō owatta.
The movie has already ended.
会議はまだ続いている。
Kaigi wa mada tsuzuite iru.
The meeting is still continuing.
もう～ない vs まだ～ない: A Crucial Difference
The previous action or state has ended.
⇒ no longer / not anymore
まだ～ない
The expected action or state has not begun or occurred.
⇒ not yet
もう東京に住んでいない。
I no longer live in Tokyo.
⇒ I lived there before, but that state ended.
まだ東京に住んでいない。
I do not live in Tokyo yet.
⇒ Living there is expected or possible later, but it has not started.
Without that context, the sentence may sound unusual because most people do not assume everyone will eventually live in Tokyo.
How Expectation Changes the Nuance
もう and まだ often reveal what the speaker expected.
It is already ten.
⇒ Time has progressed farther than the speaker feels or expected.
まだ十時です。
It is only/still ten.
⇒ The speaker feels the time is earlier than expected or that enough time remains.
もう三十歳です。
Mō sanjussai desu.
I am already thirty.
まだ三十歳です。
Mada sanjussai desu.
I am only/still thirty.
もう三十歳 looks forward from youth and notices that the boundary has already arrived.
まだ三十歳 looks ahead and emphasizes that the person remains young or has time left.
もうすぐ: “Soon” or “Almost”
もう can also mean that a change is very close, even though it has not happened yet.
soon / very shortly / almost
もうすぐ電車が来ます。
Mō sugu densha ga kimasu.
The train will come soon.
もうすぐ春です。
Mō sugu haru desu.
It will soon be spring.
映画はもうすぐ始まる。
Eiga wa mō sugu hajimaru.
The movie is about to begin.
The boundary is so close that the speaker treats the present as nearly reaching it.
For beginners, learn もうすぐ as one common expression meaning “soon.”
もう一度 and もう一つ: Adding One More
もう can mean “another” or “one more” before a limited quantity.
one more time / again
もう一つ
one more / another one
もう少し
a little more / a little longer
もう一度言ってください。
Mō ichido itte kudasai.
Please say it one more time.
りんごをもう一つください。
Ringo o mō hitotsu kudasai.
Please give me one more apple.
もう少し待ってください。
Mō sukoshi matte kudasai.
Please wait a little longer.
The surrounding quantity—一度, 一つ, 少し—makes the intended meaning clear.
もういい: “That’s Enough” or “It’s Fine Now”
もういい is extremely common, but tone and context matter.
That is enough.
It is fine now.
Never mind.
I do not need any more.
I am done with this.
もういいよ。ありがとう。
Mō ii yo. Arigatō.
That is enough now. Thank you.
説明はもういい。
Setsumei wa mō ii.
I do not need any more explanation.
“Enough.”
“Forget it.”
“I’m done.”
With a gentle tone, it may simply mean that no more help, food, or explanation is needed.
もう無理 and もうだめ: A Limit Has Been Reached
I cannot do this anymore.
This is impossible now.
もうだめ。
It is no good now.
I cannot continue.
It is over.
Here, もう shows that the speaker has crossed a limit. These phrases are common in casual speech, anime, and online conversations.
まだまだ: “Still a Long Way to Go” or “Much More”
Repeating まだ strengthens the idea that the expected endpoint has not been reached.
still a long way to go
not nearly enough yet
much more
far from finished
私の日本語はまだまだです。
Watashi no Nihongo wa mada mada desu.
My Japanese still has a long way to go.
試合はまだまだこれからだ。
Shiai wa mada mada kore kara da.
The match is far from over.
まだまだ練習が必要です。
Mada mada renshū ga hitsuyō desu.
I still need much more practice.
“I still have a long way to go.”
“I am not that good yet.”
It may be sincere, conventional, or both, depending on the speaker and situation.
まだいい: “Still Better” or “At Least Acceptable”
まだ also has a comparative use meaning that one option is relatively better or more acceptable than another.
B is still better than A.
B is the less bad option.
歩くより、バスを待つほうがまだいい。
Aruku yori, basu o matsu hō ga mada ii.
Waiting for the bus is still better than walking.
This is an additional meaning. Beginners should first master still and not yet.
Mou vs Mada in the Same Conversations
Situation 1: Lunch
Have you eaten yet?
B: うん、もう食べた。
Yes, I already ate.
C: いや、まだ。
No, not yet.
D: 私はまだ食べてる。
I am still eating.
Situation 2: Rain
It is still raining.
雨はもうやんだ。
The rain has already stopped.
雨はまだやんでいない。
The rain has not stopped yet.
もう雨は降っていない。
It is no longer raining.
Situation 3: A Shop
The shop is already open.
店はまだ開いている。
The shop is still open.
店はまだ開いていない。
The shop is not open yet.
店はもう開いていない。
The shop is no longer open / is already closed.
The negative example is useful because it shows the grammar, but Japanese may choose a positive verb that describes the new state directly.
Mou vs Mada with Age, Time, and Seasons
It is already five.
⇒ The time feels late or has advanced quickly.
まだ五時だ。
It is only/still five.
⇒ The time feels early or there is time left.
もう冬だ。
It is already winter.
⇒ The seasonal boundary has arrived.
まだ秋だ。
It is still autumn.
⇒ The earlier season continues.
Mou vs Mada in Anime, Manga, and Casual Speech
Because these words express expectation, limits, and changing situations, they appear constantly in dramatic dialogue.
It is all over now.
まだ終わってない！
It is not over yet!
もう遅い。
It is already too late.
まだ間に合う。
There is still time / We can still make it.
もう無理だ。
I cannot do this anymore.
まだ戦える。
I can still fight.
もう一度だけ。
Just one more time.
まだまだだな。
You still have a long way to go.
Natural translations include:
“You have a long way to go.”
“That is not enough.”
“Not even close.”
Origin and History of もう and まだ
The Origin of もう
もう is an old Japanese adverb. Historical dictionary records show the meaning “already / having reached that state” in a 1477 text.
The detailed formation is not completely certain. A historical dictionary notes a relationship with the adverb も and records older forms connected with もうはや.
A situation has already reached a new stage
↓
modern “already”
↓
with a negative: the former state has ended
↓
modern “no longer / not anymore”
The Origin of まだ
まだ developed as a sound change from いまだ, meaning “even now” or “up to this point.” The kanji spelling 未だ reflects the idea that something has not yet reached completion.
↓
affirmative sentence: still
↓
expected change has not occurred
↓
negative sentence: not yet
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Answering a もう Question with もう in the Negative
Have you eaten yet?
○ いいえ、まだです。
No, not yet.
△ いいえ、もう食べません。
No, I will not eat anymore.
⇒ This gives a completely different meaning.
Mistake 2: Using まだ + Simple Negative for a Completed Experience
I have not seen it yet.
△ まだ見ません。
I will not watch it yet.
Mistake 3: Translating もう as “Already” in Every Sentence
I am leaving now / soon.
もう一度。
One more time.
もういい。
That is enough / Never mind.
もう食べない。
I will not eat anymore.
Mistake 4: Translating まだ as “Yet” in Every Sentence
still young
まだ来ていない。
has not come yet
まだある。
there is still some
まだまだです。
I still have a long way to go.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the Speaker’s Expectation
The factual clock time may be the same, but the emotional viewpoint changes.
It is already eight!
⇒ Surprise that time has advanced.
まだ八時。
It is only eight.
⇒ Relief or emphasis that time remains.
Natural Example Sentences with もう and まだ
もう宿題を終えました。
Mō shukudai o oemashita.
I have already finished my homework.
宿題はまだ終わっていません。
Shukudai wa mada owatte imasen.
My homework is not finished yet.
母はまだ仕事をしています。
Haha wa mada shigoto o shite imasu.
My mother is still working.
父はもう寝ました。
Chichi wa mō nemashita.
My father has already gone to bed.
コーヒーはまだありますか。
Kōhī wa mada arimasu ka.
Is there still any coffee?
いいえ、もうありません。
Iie, mō arimasen.
No, there is no more.
新しいスマートフォンはまだ発売されていない。
Atarashii sumātofon wa mada hatsubai sarete inai.
The new smartphone has not been released yet.
その本はもう読みましたか。
Sono hon wa mō yomimashita ka.
Have you read that book yet?
彼女はもう日本に着いている。
Kanojo wa mō Nihon ni tsuite iru.
She has already arrived in Japan.
彼女はまだ空港にいる。
Kanojo wa mada kūkō ni iru.
She is still at the airport.
もう少しゆっくり話してください。
Mō sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Please speak a little more slowly.
もう一度説明してもらえますか。
Mō ichido setsumei shite moraemasu ka.
Could you explain it one more time?
映画はまだ始まっていない。
Eiga wa mada hajimatte inai.
The movie has not started yet.
映画はもう終わっている。
Eiga wa mō owatte iru.
The movie is already over.
私はもうその会社で働いていません。
Watashi wa mō sono kaisha de hataraite imasen.
I no longer work for that company.
まだあきらめないで。
Mada akiramenaide.
Do not give up yet.
彼ならまだ間に合う。
Kare nara mada ma ni au.
He can still make it in time.
もう遅い。電車は出てしまった。
Mō osoi. Densha wa dete shimatta.
It is too late. The train has left.
店はまだ開いています。
Mise wa mada aite imasu.
The shop is still open.
店はもう閉まっています。
Mise wa mō shimatte imasu.
The shop is already closed.
FAQ About もう and まだ
What is the difference between mou and mada?
もう usually shows that an expected change or completion has happened. まだ shows that the change has not happened and the earlier state continues.
Does mou mean already?
With an affirmative completed sentence, もう usually means “already.” With a negative sentence, it often means “no longer” or “not anymore.”
Does mada mean still or not yet?
Both. With an affirmative sentence, まだ usually means “still.” With a negative sentence, it usually means “not yet.”
How do you say “Have you eaten yet?” in Japanese?
You can ask もう食べましたか politely or もう食べた？ casually.
How do you answer “not yet” in Japanese?
Say まだです politely or simply まだ casually. A full answer is まだ食べていません, “I have not eaten yet.”
What is the difference between mada tabete inai and mada tabenai?
まだ食べていない means “I have not eaten yet.” まだ食べない means “I will not eat yet.”
What is the difference between mou tabenai and mada tabenai?
もう食べない means “I will not eat anymore.” まだ食べない means “I will not eat yet,” suggesting that eating may happen later.
What does mou ii mean?
もういい can mean “that is enough,” “it is fine now,” “never mind,” or “I am done,” depending on tone and context.
What does mada mada mean?
まだまだ means “still a long way to go,” “not nearly enough yet,” or “much more.” It is often used as a modest response to praise.
How are mou and mada written in kanji?
Both are normally written in hiragana. まだ can sometimes be written 未だ, but hiragana is standard. Everyday もう should not be confused with 最早, read もはや.
Related Japanese Time and Completion Expressions
already — more formal or written than もう
まだ (mada)
still / not yet
もうすぐ (mō sugu)
soon / almost
やっと (yatto)
finally — completion after difficulty or delay
とっくに (tokku ni)
long ago / already a long time ago
まだまだ (mada mada)
still a long way to go
もはや (mohaya)
already / no longer — formal, literary, or dramatic
もうVた ⇒ already did
まだVている ⇒ still doing
まだVていない ⇒ have not done yet
もうVない ⇒ will not do anymore
Then practice the question and answer:
もうVましたか？
はい、もうVました。／いいえ、まだです。
Summary: How to Use もう and まだ
もう = the change has happened
まだ = the earlier state continues because the change has not happened
● Four basic translations
もう + affirmative = already
もう + negative = no longer / not anymore
まだ + affirmative = still
まだ + negative = not yet
● Basic question
もうVましたか？ = Have you done it yet?
● Basic answers
はい、もうVました。 = Yes, I already did.
いいえ、まだです。 = No, not yet.
● Common extra uses of もう
もうすぐ = soon
もう一度 = one more time
もう少し = a little more
もういい = that is enough / never mind
● Common extra use of まだ
まだまだ = still a long way to go
First ask:
Has the expected change happened?
Then check whether the sentence is affirmative or negative. The correct English meaning will usually become clear.
References
- The Japan Foundation, Minna no Kyozai: もう／まだ — completion, incompletion, and continuation before or after an expected change.
- Kotobank: もう — dictionary meanings, historical examples, and notes on origin.
- Goo Dictionary: まだ — meanings including “still,” “not yet,” and the relationship with いまだ.