まだ vs もう: Japanese "Still" and "Already" Expressions
Master the difference between まだ and もう in Japanese. Learn when to use each time expression with clear examples and practice exercises.
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Reviewed by GyanMirai Editorial Team•Last reviewed 2025-02-06
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Grammar Comparison JLPT N5 JLPT N5
まだvsもう
まだ vs もう: Japanese 'Still' vs 'Already' Complete Guide
Master the difference between まだ and もう in Japanese. Learn when to use 'still', 'not yet', 'already', and 'no longer' with clear examples and practice exercises.
Read time: 7 min readSearches: 2,500+ monthlyUpdated: February 17, 2026
Understanding the difference between まだ (mada) andもう (mou) is one of the most important distinctions in Japanese grammar. This comprehensive guide will help you master when and how to use each one correctly.
Grammar Point A
まだ (mada)
Still / Not yet
Indicates a continuing state (still) with affirmative verbs, or an incomplete action (not yet) with negative verbs. Implies the situation hasn't changed from before.
Indicates a continuing state (still) with affirmative verbs, or an incomplete action (not yet) with negative verbs. Implies the situation hasn't changed from before.
Indicates a completed change (already) with affirmative verbs, or a ceased state (no longer) with negative verbs. Implies the situation has changed.
Change vs Continuity: もう emphasizes CHANGE — something has happened or stopped. まだ emphasizes CONTINUITY — the same state persists. 'もう食べた' (already ate = change from not eating), 'まだ食べている' (still eating = continuing).
With Negative Verbs: まだ + negative = 'not yet' (hasn't happened but expected). もう + negative = 'not anymore / no longer' (used to but stopped). まだ食べていない (haven't eaten yet) vs もう食べない (won't eat anymore).
4
Speaker's Expectation: まだ implies waiting or expecting something to happen. もう implies surprise at early completion or finality. 'まだ？' (Not yet? / Still not done?) vs 'もう？' (Already?!)
5
Time Reference: まだ looks at the present continuing from the past. もう looks at the present as different from the past. Both contrast 'now' with 'before', but in opposite directions.
When to Use Which?
Follow this decision guide to choose the right grammar point.
Yes
Yes
Use まだ
No
Use もう
No
Yes
Use もう
No
Use まだ
Examples with Explanations
まだ
まだ食べています。
Mada tabete imasu.
I'm still eating.
Tip: まだ + affirmative shows the action continues. The eating started earlier and hasn't stopped.
Context: Someone asks if you're done with your meal
もう
もう食べました。
Mou tabemashita.
I already ate.
Tip: もう + affirmative past shows the action is completed. The change from 'not eaten' to 'eaten' has occurred.
Context: Someone offers you food but you've finished eating
まだ
まだ宿題をしていません。
Mada shukudai wo shite imasen.
I haven't done my homework yet.
Tip: まだ + negative means 'not yet' — the homework hasn't been done but it's expected to be done eventually.
Context: Parent asks about homework progress
もう
もうあの店には行きません。
Mou ano mise ni wa ikimasen.
I won't go to that store anymore.
Tip: もう + negative means 'no longer / not anymore' — you used to go but have stopped or decided to stop.
Context: Expressing you've given up on a place
まだ
彼女はまだ学生ですか？
Kanojo wa mada gakusei desu ka?
Is she still a student?
Tip: まだ asks if a state continues. The speaker knew she was a student before and wonders if that's still true.
Context: Asking about someone's current status
もう
彼はもう社会人です。
Kare wa mou shakaijin desu.
He's already a working adult.
Tip: もう indicates a change of status — he was a student before but has now become a working adult.
Context: Explaining someone's new life stage
まだ
まだ時間がありますか？
Mada jikan ga arimasu ka?
Is there still time?
Tip: Asking if time remains — the speaker hopes the situation (having time) continues.
Context: Checking if a deadline hasn't passed
もう
もう時間がありません。
Mou jikan ga arimasen.
There's no more time. / Time's up.
Tip: もう + negative shows the time has run out — a change from having time to not having it.
Context: Announcing a deadline has passed
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1Using まだ to mean 'already'
Correction: Use もう for 'already' (completed change)
まだ means 'still' or 'not yet' — it shows continuation, not completion.
Wrong: まだ宿題をしました。 -- Still did homework (doesn't make sense)
Correct: もう宿題をしました。 -- Already did homework (correct)
Mistake #2Using もう with affirmative to mean 'still'
Correction: Use まだ + affirmative for 'still doing'
もう + affirmative means 'already did', not 'still doing'.
Wrong: もう食べています。(meaning: still eating) -- Already eating (wrong nuance)
Correct: まだ食べています。 -- Still eating (correct)
Mistake #3Confusing まだ...ない and もう...ない
Correction: まだ...ない = not yet / もう...ない = not anymore
Both are negative but have opposite time implications. まだ implies future expectation, もう implies past cessation.
Wrong: Using them interchangeably -- Treating them as the same
Correct: まだ来ていない (hasn't come yet) vs もう来ない (won't come anymore) -- Understanding the time difference
Mistake #4Forgetting まだ in 'not yet' expressions
Correction: Include まだ when expressing incomplete actions
Just using negative form doesn't convey 'not yet' — you need まだ to show expectation.
Wrong: 宿題をしていません。(I'm not doing homework) -- Simple negative without 'yet' nuance
もう = MOve (change has happened). まだ = MAintain (same state continues).
Example: もう終わった (moved to finished state) vs まだ終わっていない (maintaining unfinished state)
Tip 2
Time Direction
まだ looks backward: 'same as before'. もう looks forward: 'different from before'.
Example: まだ子供 (still a child, same as before) vs もう大人 (already an adult, different from before)
Tip 3
Question Response Pattern
If asked もう〜した？(Did you already...?), answer まだです (not yet) or もう〜しました (already did).
Example: もう食べた？→ まだです / もう食べました
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Click on your answer to see if you are correct.
0 / 6 answered
Q1
___朝ごはんを食べましたか？
Have you already eaten breakfast?
Q2
いいえ、___食べていません。
No, I haven't eaten yet.
Q3
彼女は___学生ですか？
Is she still a student?
Q4
あの映画は___見ました。とても面白かったです。
I already watched that movie. It was very interesting.
Q5
子供たちは___遊んでいます。
The children are still playing.
Q6
タバコは___吸いません。
I don't smoke anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
まだです means 'not yet' — the action hasn't happened but is expected. もうです means 'already' — the action is done. When asked もう〜しましたか？(Have you already...?), you can answer まだです (not yet) or もうしました / はい、もう (yes, already).
Yes! まだ + adjective = 'still [adjective]': まだ若い (still young). もう + adjective = 'already [adjective]': もう古い (already old). The same change vs continuity logic applies.
もう一度 (mou ichido) means 'one more time' or 'again'. This is a different usage of もう meaning 'more/another'. Similarly, もう少し means 'a little more'. Context determines whether もう means 'already' or 'more'.
The polite form is まだです or まだ〜していません. For very polite situations, use まだでございます or まだいたしておりません (humble). In casual speech, just まだ or まだだよ works.
Both mean 'already', but すでに is more formal and literary. もう is used in everyday conversation. すでに often appears in written Japanese, news, or formal speeches. For spoken Japanese, もう is almost always the better choice.
Summary
Use まだ when...
Indicates a continuing state (still) with affirmative verbs, or an incomplete action (not yet) with negative verbs. Implies the situation hasn't changed from before.
Use もう when...
Indicates a completed change (already) with affirmative verbs, or a ceased state (no longer) with negative verbs. Implies the situation has changed.
Pro Tip: The best way to master the difference is through reading and listening practice. Pay attention to how native speakers use these grammar points in context.
