still; not yet (まだ) – Japanese Grammar まだ (mada)

Q: What JLPT level is まだ?

JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Q: How do you use まだ in a sentence?

Attach まだ to the appropriate verb or noun form. Still; not yet

Q: Is まだ formal or casual Japanese?

まだ can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

まだ

N5 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

mada

still; not yet

どうやって douyatte で de でしょう deshou てもいいです temo ii desu ている te iru だけ dake と to 一番 ichiban たことがある ta koto ga aru がいます ga imasu も mo んです ndesu もう mou ね ne なる naru なあ naa たり〜たり tari~tari とき toki のが上手 no ga jouzu でも demo どうやって douyatte で de でしょう deshou てもいいです temo ii desu ている te iru だけ dake と to 一番 ichiban たことがある ta koto ga aru がいます ga imasu も mo んです ndesu もう mou ね ne なる naru なあ naa たり〜たり tari~tari とき toki のが上手 no ga jouzu でも demo

🃏 Flashcard

まだ

mada

Tap to reveal usage

still; not yet

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N5

Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Reading mada

Post ID 50628

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

still; not yet

📖 How to use it

まだ indicates that a state or action continues up to the present (still) or that something expected has not happened (not yet).

Attaches to まだ is an adverb, so it attaches to the beginning of a clause or sentence. It is not a grammatical conjugation; it modifies verbs, adjectives, or nouns in their normal forms.

まだ is a common adverb meaning 'still' or 'not yet'. When used with positive verbs or adjectives, it means that something is still happening or a state continues. For example, 'まだ働いています' means 'I am still working'. When used with negative verbs (verbs in the negative form), it means 'not yet', indicating that something has not happened up to now: 'まだ食べていません' means 'I have not eaten yet'.

A key point is that まだ often appears with the negative form to express 'not yet', and with affirmative forms to express 'still'. It is used in both conversation and writing, and is completely natural in everyday speech. It is an N5-level word, so you will use it often.

Be careful: まだ does not change form. It is placed right before the word it modifies, usually the verb at the end of the sentence.

まだ仕事をしています。

Mada shigoto o shite imasu.

I am still working.

まだ電車が来ていません。

Mada densha ga kite imasen.

The train hasn't come yet.

まだ時間があります。

Mada jikan ga arimasu.

There is still time.

Not もうもう means 'already' (with affirmative) or 'no longer' (with negative). For example, もう食べました means 'I already ate', while まだ食べていません means 'I haven't eaten yet'. Use まだ for 'still' or 'not yet', and もう for 'already' or 'no longer'.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

まだ

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat まだ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using まだ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns

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けれども

but; however; although

まだ〜ていません

have not yet

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern まだ mean? ▼

Still; not yet

What JLPT level is まだ? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use まだ in a sentence? ▼

Attach まだ (mada) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is まだ formal or casual Japanese? ▼

まだ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember まだ long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.