adverbial N5 essential casualpolitewritten
もう — already
もう
Meaning
① already: already ~ — a change the speaker expected has happened by now
② not anymore: not ~ anymore / no longer ~ — paired with a negative
Key sentence
① already
もう昼ご飯を食べた。
I've already eaten lunch.
② not anymore
もうお腹が空いていない。
I'm not hungry anymore.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | もう + affirmative = 'already'; もう + negative = 'not anymore' |
Examples
① already
電車はもう出てしまった。
The train has already left.
彼女はもう帰った。
She's already gone home.
② not anymore
あの店はもうない。
That shop is gone now.
もう子供じゃない。
I'm not a child anymore.
Easily confused with
Notes
- Before a number or amount, もう means 'more': もう一つ ('one more'), もう一度 ('one more time'), もう少し ('a little more').
See もう in real sentences
Jengo shows もう 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.