もう: How to Say 'Already' and 'Not Anymore' in Japanese
What it means
もう is a small adverb that shifts a sentence in time. The trick is that its meaning depends on whether the verb is positive or negative. Before a positive verb it says something has already happened; before a negative verb it says something is no longer the case. Separately, in front of a number or counter it means "more" — one more, another one. Read the verb and you'll always know which もう you're looking at.
ヤッタンはもう宿題をした。
ヤッタンは もう しゅくだいを した。
Yattan already did the homework.
モチはもうここにいない。
モチは もう ここに いない。
Mochi isn't here anymore.
Negative verb → 'not anymore.'
先生、もう一度お願いします。
せんせい、もう いちど おねがいします。
Teacher, one more time, please.
もう + number = 'one more.'
How to form it
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| もう + positive verb (often past) | already (done) | もう着いた = already arrived |
| もう + negative verb | not anymore / no longer | もう食べない = won't eat anymore |
| もう + number/counter | one more / another | もう一杯 = one more cup |
There's nothing to conjugate — もう just sits in front of the verb or number. The verb does the work: positive gives "already," negative gives "not anymore."
もう + positive = already
When the verb is positive (very often in the past tense), もう means the action is already finished:
ヤッタンはもう晩ごはんを食べた。
ヤッタンは もう ばんごはんを たべた。
Yattan already ate dinner.
弟はもう寝た。
おとうとは もう ねた。
My little brother already went to sleep.
もう着いた？
もう ついた？
Have you arrived already?
A common question — 'already?' / 'yet?'
In a question, もう着いた？ asks "Are you there already / yet?" The natural answer that means "not yet" is まだ — more on that pair below.
もう + negative = not anymore
When the verb is negative, もう flips to "not anymore / no longer." The action used to happen, but it has stopped:
ヤッタンはもうお酒を飲まない。
ヤッタンは もう おさけを のまない。
Yattan doesn't drink alcohol anymore.
モチはもう子どもじゃない。
モチは もう こどもじゃ ない。
Mochi isn't a child anymore.
お金がもうない。
おかねが もう ない。
There's no money left / no more money.
もう + ない = 'no more, none left.'
もう + number = one more
In front of a number or counter, もう means "more" — an additional one. もう一つ ("one more"), もう一杯 ("one more cup"), もう一度 ("one more time"):
ヤッタンはコーヒーをもう一杯飲んだ。
ヤッタンは コーヒーを もう いっぱい のんだ。
Yattan drank one more cup of coffee.
モチ、もう少し待って。
モチ、もう すこし まって。
Mochi, wait a little more.
もう少し = 'a little more' — very common.
もう and まだ — a natural pair
These two go together, so learn them side by side. まだ means "still" with a positive verb and "not yet" with a negative verb — the mirror image of もう:
- もう食べた？ ("Have you eaten already?") ↔ いいえ、まだ ("No, not yet.")
- もう寝た。("Already went to sleep.") ↔ まだ起きてる。("Still awake.")
- もういない。("Not here anymore.") ↔ まだいる。("Still here.")
So if もう着いた？ means "Are you there yet?", the short reply まだ means "not yet." When you want "still" or "not yet," reach for まだ; when you want "already" or "not anymore," reach for もう.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the verb decides the meaning. もう食べた = "already ate"; もう食べない = "won't eat anymore." Same もう, opposite-feeling sentences — check whether the verb is positive or negative.
- Using もう for "still." "Still here" is まだいる, not もういる. もういる would be odd; the "still" idea belongs to まだ.
- Answering もう…？ with the wrong word. To もう着いた？ ("there yet?"), "not yet" is まだ, not もう.
- Dropping もう in "one more." "One more cup" is もう一杯; 一杯 alone just means "one cup." The もう is what adds the "more."
Quick recap
- もう + positive verb (often past) = already (もう食べた).
- もう + negative verb = not anymore / no longer (もう食べない、もういない).
- もう + number = one more / another (もう一杯、もう一度).
- Its partner まだ = still / not yet — the natural opposite of もう.
Your turn
Pick the right reading of もう: 'already,' 'not anymore,' or 'one more.'
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Does もう mean 'already' or 'not anymore'?
Both — it depends on the verb. With a positive verb (often past) it means 'already': もう食べた ('already ate'). With a negative verb it means 'not anymore': もう食べない ('won't eat anymore').
What's the difference between もう and まだ?
They're opposites. もう = 'already' / 'not anymore.' まだ = 'still' (with a positive verb) or 'not yet' (with a negative verb). To もう着いた？ ('there yet?'), the answer 'not yet' is まだ.
How do I say 'one more'?
Put もう before a number or counter: もう一つ ('one more'), もう一杯 ('one more cup'), もう一度 ('one more time'). もう少し means 'a little more.'
Is もう always in the past tense?
No. The 'already' meaning often uses the past (もう食べた), but the 'not anymore' meaning uses a present negative (もう飲まない), and 'one more' has no fixed tense (もう一杯ください).