まだ: How to Say 'Still' and 'Not Yet' in Japanese
What it means
まだ is an adverb that points to a state that hasn't changed yet. When it sits in front of a positive sentence, it means "still" — something is continuing. When it teams up with the negative 〜ていない form, the whole sentence means "not yet" — something hasn't happened. Same word, two readings, decided entirely by whether the verb is positive or negative.
ヤッタンはまだ寝ています。
ヤッタンは まだ ねて います。
Yattan is still sleeping.
まだ + positive 〜ている = still doing it.
まだ早いですよ。
まだ はやいですよ。
It's still early.
まだ + an い-adjective also means 'still.'
モチはまだ宿題をしていません。
モチは まだ しゅくだいを して いません。
Mochi hasn't done the homework yet.
まだ + 〜ていない = not yet.
How to form it
まだ goes near the front of the sentence, before the verb or adjective. The meaning flips depending on what follows:
| Meaning | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| still (action) | まだ + 〜ている | まだ食べている = still eating |
| still (state) | まだ + adjective / noun | まだ早い = still early |
| not yet | まだ + 〜ていない | まだ食べていない = haven't eaten yet |
| "Not yet." | まだ (alone) | 「もう食べた?」「まだ。」 = "Eaten yet?" "Not yet." |
The single most important point: "not yet" uses 〜ていない, not 〜なかった. まだ食べていない describes a state — the eating still hasn't happened. 食べなかった means "didn't eat" (a finished past fact) and does not carry the "yet" feeling.
"Still" — まだ with a positive sentence
Put まだ in front of a positive verb or adjective and it stresses that nothing has changed:
先生はまだ教室にいます。
せんせいは まだ きょうしつに います。
The teacher is still in the classroom.
ヤッタンはまだ漢字を覚えています。
ヤッタンは まだ かんじを おぼえて います。
Yattan is still memorizing kanji.
お茶はまだ温かいです。
おちゃは まだ あたたかいです。
The tea is still warm.
"Not yet" — まだ with 〜ていない
For "not yet," pair まだ with the negative continuing form 〜ていない (polite: 〜ていません). This says the action hasn't taken place up to now:
ヤッタンの弟はまだ起きていません。
ヤッタンの おとうとは まだ おきて いません。
Yattan's little brother hasn't woken up yet.
モチはまだ昼ご飯を食べていません。
モチは まだ ひるごはんを たべて いません。
Mochi hasn't eaten lunch yet.
As a quick reply, まだ can stand completely alone:
「もう手紙を書いた?」「まだです。」
「もう てがみを かいた?」「まだです。」
'Have you written the letter yet?' 'Not yet.'
まだ (or まだです) is a full answer on its own.
まだ vs もう
These two are a matched pair. もう means "already" with a positive verb, and "no longer / not anymore" with a negative one — the mirror image of まだ:
- まだ食べている = still eating → もう食べた = already ate
- まだ食べていない = not yet eaten → もう食べない = doesn't eat anymore
So a question like もう食べた? ("Have you eaten already?") is naturally answered with either はい、もう食べました ("Yes, already") or いいえ、まだです ("No, not yet").
Common mistakes
- Using 〜なかった for "not yet." "Not yet" is まだ食べていない, not まだ食べなかった. The 〜なかった form just means "didn't (do it)," with no "yet" sense.
- Mixing up まだ and もう. まだ = still / not yet (nothing changed); もう = already / no longer (it changed). Don't swap them.
- Dropping the 〜ている for "still" actions. "Still sleeping" is まだ寝ている, not just まだ寝る (which sounds like "still going to sleep").
- Forgetting まだ can answer alone. You don't need a full sentence — 「まだ。」 or 「まだです。」 is a complete, natural "Not yet."
Quick recap
- まだ + positive = "still": まだ早い, まだ寝ている.
- まだ + 〜ていない = "not yet": まだ食べていない.
- "Not yet" uses 〜ていない, never 〜なかった.
- まだ alone = "Not yet."
- Opposite is もう = "already / no longer."
Your turn
Choose まだ + the right form for 'still' or 'not yet.'
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Does まだ mean 'still' or 'not yet'?
Both — it depends on the verb. With a positive sentence まだ means 'still' (まだ食べている = still eating). With the negative 〜ていない it means 'not yet' (まだ食べていない = haven't eaten yet).
Why is 'not yet' まだ食べていない and not まだ食べなかった?
'Not yet' describes a state that still hasn't happened, so Japanese uses 〜ていない. 食べなかった means 'didn't eat' — a finished past fact with no 'yet' meaning.
Can まだ be a one-word answer?
Yes. To 「もう食べた?」 ('Eaten yet?') you can simply reply 「まだ。」 or more politely 「まだです。」 meaning 'Not yet.'
What's the difference between まだ and もう?
They are opposites. まだ = 'still' / 'not yet' (no change). もう = 'already' (positive) or 'no longer / not anymore' (negative).