また

ま

た

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

1

again; once more

usually written using kana alone

Indicates repetition of an action or state. Used adverbially.

また雨あめが降ふってきた。
It started raining again.
また同おなじ間ま違ちがいをした。
I made the same mistake again.

2

also; too; as well

usually written using kana alone

Adds an item or person to a list or statement. Similar to も but often at the beginning of a clause.

彼かれは医い者しゃで、また作さっ家かでもある。
He is a doctor and also a writer.
日本にほん語ごを勉べん強きょうしています。また、フランス語ごも勉べん強きょうしたいです。
I'm studying Japanese. I'd like to study French as well.

3

on the other hand; while

usually written using kana alone

Introduces a contrasting point. Often used with 一方 or in a structure like また一方で.

この車くるまは速はやい。また、燃ねん費ぴも悪わるくない。
This car is fast. On the other hand, its fuel efficiency isn't bad either.

4

and; in addition; moreover

usually written using kana alone

Conjunctive use linking clauses or sentences, adding information.

彼かれは親しん切せつだ。また、とても頭あたまがいい。
He is kind. Moreover, he is very smart.

5

usually written using kana alone

Presents an alternative. Often used in the pattern また(は) or in questions offering a choice.

コーヒーにしますか、または紅こう茶ちゃにしますか。
Will you have coffee, or tea?

6

really; how; on earth

usually written using kana alone

Expresses surprise, shock, or doubt. Often used in questions like またどうして or またなぜ.

またどうしてそんなことをしたの？
Why on earth did you do that?

7

some time (in the future)

usually written using kana alone

Kansai dialect usage meaning 'sometime later' or 'another time'.

また遊あそびに来きてな。
Come visit again sometime.

8

Prefix meaning indirect or secondary. Found in compounds like また聞き (hearsay).

See also: また聞き

それはまた聞ぎきの話はなしだから、本ほん当とうかどうかわからない。
That's secondhand information, so I don't know if it's true.

See all 1,395 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

また〈動どう詞し〉to do (something) again
彼かれはまた同おなじ間ま違ちがいをした。
He made the same mistake again.
〈事こと〉。また、〈事こと〉も。used to add another related point within a statement
彼かれは医い者しゃであり、また作さっ家かでもある。
He is a doctor, and also a writer.
また一いっ方ぽうで〈事こと〉on the other hand, ...
都と市し生せい活かつは便べん利りだが、また一いっ方ぽうで人にん間げん関かん係けいが薄うすくなる。
City life is convenient, but on the other hand, human relationships become weaker.
〈事こと〉。また、〈事こと〉。moreover, ...: connects two sentences with related additional information
このレストランは料りょう理りがおいしい。また、店てん員いんの対たい応おうも丁てい寧ねいだ。
The food at this restaurant is delicious. Moreover, the staff's service is polite.

Expressions

またとないunique; matchless; unparalleled; never again
私わたくしも又またme too; I also

Grammar

またalso, in addition; againN4

Kanji

又or again, furthermore, on the other hand
亦also, again
復restore, return to, revert

Related words· 9

も sense 2
も is a particle meaning 'also' or 'too' attached to a noun, while また is an adverb/conjunction meaning 'also' or 'again' and can start a clause.
さらにN3sense 4
さらに means 'furthermore' or 'even more' and often implies a higher degree, while また is more neutral for simply adding information.
あるいはN3sense 5
あるいは is a formal conjunction meaning 'or', while また is more casual and typically combines into または to express the same idea.
再ふたたびN3sense 1
再び is a formal, literary word for 'again' used mainly in writing, while また is the everyday equivalent used in speech.

Show 5 more

一いっ方ぽうN3sense 3
一方 means 'on the other hand' and is often paired with また (また一方で) to introduce a contrast, but used alone it is more formal and noun-like than また.
そしてN5sense 4
そして links sequential actions or events ('and then'), whereas また adds a related but separate point ('also/moreover').
かつN1
また introduces an additional, somewhat separate point, whereas かつ tightly binds two aspects as being true of the same subject at the same time.
再さいN2
また is a native Japanese adverb used in everyday casual speech, while 再 is a formal prefix mainly found in written or official Sino-Japanese compounds.
このほか
このほか signals 'besides this' when listing additional things, while また is a lighter, more common connector meaning 'also' or 'and'.

Don't confuse with

まだN5
まだ means 'still' or 'not yet' and is easily confused with また ('again/also') because the two words differ by only one vowel.
複ふく
復 (return, again, as in 復習) is a homophone often confused with 複 (multiple, compound, as in 複数) despite having unrelated meanings.
股またN2
又 (また) is an unrelated common word meaning 'again' or 'also', which learners can confuse with 股 (また) because they share the same reading and a similar kanji shape.

Word family· 35

またはN4
or; either ... or ...
またもや
once again; yet again
猫ねこ又また
nekomata; fork-tailed cat yōkai · giant mountain beast
マタギ
matagi; traditional winter hunters of Tōhoku
三みつ又また
three-pronged; three-way; trifurcated · three-pronged fork; trident

Show 11 more

またぞろ
(yet) again; once more
殳るまた
kanji radical 79 (right side)
またまた
once again; yet again; (there you go) again
またと
(never) again; a second time
またね
bye; see you later
またも
again; once again
又また姪めい
grandniece
又また甥おい
grandnephew
又また隣どなり
second door from here; next door but one
はたまた
or; or else; alternatively
なおまた
besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition

See all 35 in Explore →

Written forms

またUsage86%
The word is usually written in kana. Kanji forms 又, 亦, and 復 exist but are rare.
又またUsage14%
Rare kanji form; mostly seen in older or formal writing.
亦またUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
復またUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

Native Japanese word. The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 又 is a pictograph of a right hand, used phonetically for 'again'.