まだ / もう — Still vs Already / Not Yet vs Not Anymore
A pair of adverbs whose English meaning flips depending on whether the verb is positive or negative. まだ = 'still' (positive) / 'not yet' (negative). もう = 'already' (positive) / 'not anymore' (negative).
Structure
まだ + [positive → still / negative → not yet] ・ もう + [positive → already / negative → not anymore]
Examples
まだ生きています。
Mada ikite imasu.
I am still alive.
まだ + positive = still
まだ決めていません。
Mada kimete imasen.
I haven't decided yet.
まだ + negative = not yet
もう限界だ。
Mou genkai da.
I'm already at my limit.
もう + positive = already
もう泣かない。
Mou nakanai.
I won't cry anymore.
もう + negative = not anymore
• A mental model that avoids the English confusion: まだ = the current state is still CONTINUING. もう = the state has already CHANGED. • もう also appears meaning 'more' in counting: もう一つ (one more).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones まだ is tested against.
vs まだ vs もう
まだ says a state is unchanged/continuing (still, not yet); もう says a state has changed/completed (already, not anymore) — they are near-opposites.
More adverbs
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