Japanese words are all very similar due to the limited number of syllables. That is why it is easier sometimes to learn the kanji, in order to be able to distinguish similar sounds and memorize them better. These adverbs below are particularly confusing for students, so today, I’d like to go over them: mada, mata, mou. What makes them even trickier is that their meanings vary according to the verb’s form too.
Mada (まだ) + affirmative form: still
Ex: Mada tabeteimasu (まだ食べています) – he is still eating
Mada (まだ) + negative form: not yet
Ex: Mada kiteinai desu (まだ来ていないです) – he hasn’t arrived yet
Mata (また): again
Ex: Mata kimasu (また来ます) – I will come again
Mou (もう) + affirmative form: already
Ex: Mou yomimashita (もう読みました) – he already read (it)
Mou (もう) + negative form: no longer, not anymore
Ex: Mou nomimasen (もう飲みません) – I will no longer drink
Mou (もう) + number/quantity: more
Ex: Mou hitotsu (もう一つ) – one more (thing)
Mou ichido (もう一度) – one more time
Mou! (もう) (an interjection): come on!, jeez!, argh!
* Please note that we use sometime “mou” in conversations as a light or subtle emphasis, without necessary always a strong meaning (it also depends on how the person says it).
For example:
Kono gohan, mou hontouni oishikute. (このご飯、もう本当においしくて)
= This meal is really delicious.
I’ve purposefully ended the phrase with a te-form, which we do typically in conversations. Here the “mou” doesn’t necessarily add so much emphasis, since we have already “hontouni” which means “really,” but it just feels natural to add it in a conversation for a “flow.” It adds some flavor to it.