adverbial N5 essential casualpolitewritten
まだ — still
まだ
Meaning
① still: still ~ — a state or action from before is unchanged
② not yet: not yet ~ — paired with a negative; the expected change hasn't happened
Key sentence
① still
外はまだ明るい。
It's still light outside.
② not yet
宿題はまだ終わっていない。
I haven't finished my homework yet.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | まだ + affirmative clause = 'still'; まだ + negative clause = 'not yet' |
Examples
① still
彼はまだ寝ている。
He's still asleep.
時間はまだある。
There's still time.
② not yet
返事はまだ来ない。
The reply still hasn't come.
薬はまだ飲んでいない。
I haven't taken the medicine yet.
When you can't use it
- The 'not yet' sense pairs with the negative of 〜ている (まだ食べていない), not the plain past: まだ食べなかった means 'still didn't eat,' not 'haven't eaten yet.' not yet
Easily confused with
See まだ in real sentences
Jengo shows まだ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.