Japanese word

まだ

Pronunciation

Romajimada

Meaning

  • adverbstill

Example

私はまだ学生です。watashi wa ma da gaku sei de su

I am still a student.

Illustration for まだ (still)

More examples

弟はまだ寝ています。otōto wa ma da ne te i ma su

My little brother is still sleeping.

会議はまだ始まっていません。kai gi wa ma da haji ma tte i ma se n

The meeting has not started yet.

Core concept

It marks a situation as continuing up to the present or as not having happened by the relevant time.

Common phrases

  • まだですma da de su

    not yet

  • まだ大丈夫ma da dai jō bu

    still okay

  • まだ早いma da haya i

    still early

  • まだわからないma da wa ka ra na i

    still don't know

Similar words

いまだimada: Indicates that a state or situation continues up to the present, often with a negative expression.
なおnao: Indicates that a state continues, often in formal or written descriptions.
引き続きhikitsuzuki: Indicates that an action or state continues without interruption.

Definition in Japanese

ある状態が今も続いていることや、事柄がまだ実現していないことを表す語。a ru jō tai ga ima mo tsuzu i te i ru ko to ya koto gara ga ma da jitsu gen shi te i na i ko to o arawa su go

Word origin

まだ (mada, "still; yet") is traditionally explained as a shortened form of いまだ (imada, "still; yet").

Usage tips

  • The Japanese adverb まだ (mada) often means "still" in positive sentences and "not yet" in negative sentences.

Other meanings

  • yetadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word