Japanese word

もはや

Pronunciation

Romajimohaya

Meaning

  • adverbno longer

Example

この計画はもはや必要ありません。ko no kei kaku wa mo ha ya hitsu yō a ri ma se n

This plan is no longer necessary.

Illustration for もはや (no longer)

More examples

その約束はもはや意味がありません。so no yaku soku wa mo ha ya i mi ga a ri ma se n

That promise no longer has any meaning.

Core concept

Signals that something once true, possible, or needed has ceased to be so.

Common phrases

  • もはや関係ないmo ha ya kan kei na i

    no longer matter

  • もはや戻れないmo ha ya modo re na i

    can no longer go back

Similar words

もうmō: It is used with a negative expression to say that something is no longer true or needed.

Definition in Japanese

かつて成り立っていたことが、現在は成り立たなくなったさま。ka tsu te na ri ta tte i ta ko to ga gen zai wa na ri ta ta na ku na tta sa ma

Word origin

The Japanese adverb もはや (mohaya) joins も (mo, "also") with はや (haya, "early" or "soon"); its older sense of "already" extends to "no longer" when the following statement is negative.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, もはや (mohaya) often sounds written or dramatic, while もう (mō) followed by a negative expression is more natural for everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • alreadyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word