まだまだ

ま

だ

ま

だ

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

adverb

still; much more; not yet

usually written using kana alone

Emphatic version of まだ, used to stress that a state continues, that there is more to come, or that something is not yet the case. Often appears in encouraging or modest contexts.

Usage patterns

まだまだ〈形けい容よう詞し〉still very ~ (emphasizing a continuing state)
今こん年ねんの冬ふゆはまだまだ寒さむい。
This winter is still very cold.
〈人ひと〉はまだまだだsomeone still has a long way to go (before reaching a goal)
私わたしの日本にほん語ごはまだまだです。
My Japanese still has a long way to go.
まだまだ〈動どう詞し〉there is still much more ~ to do/happen
この仕し事ごとはまだまだ続つづく。
This job still has a long way to go.
まだまだこれからthe best/most of it is still ahead
私わたしたちのチームはまだまだこれからだ。
Our team's best days are still ahead of us.

Kanji

未un-, not yet, hitherto

Related words

まだN5sense 1
まだ is the plain, neutral word for 'still/not yet', while まだまだ adds emphasis, stressing that there is a lot more time or distance left.
依い然ぜんとしてN1sense 1
依然として is a formal, written-style synonym for 'still (unchanged)', whereas まだまだ is conversational and emphatic.

Opposites

もうN5sense 1
もう means 'already', the direct temporal opposite of まだまだ's sense of 'still not yet there'.

Written forms

まだまだUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the kanji form 未だ未だ is rarely used.
マダマダUsage<1%
未まだ未まだUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

Reduplication of まだ (still, yet) for emphasis. The kanji 未だ is rarely used for this word.