Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 7: 9/13

まだ
Still, Not yet

Structure
Casual
Polite
まだ + Verb[ている]
まだ + Noun + + いる
まだ + Noun + + ある
まだ + Verb[ている](Polite)
まだ + Noun + + います
まだ + Noun + + あります
Details
Part of Speech Adverb
Word Type Independent Word
Register Standard
品詞 副詞
単語の種類 自立語
使用域 一般
未だ
Information
In English, まだ is regularly translated as ‘still’, or ‘not yet’, depending on if it is used in a positive non-past, or negative sentence. The reason that Japanese only requires one word for both of these nuances is due to まだ literally meaning ‘something is unexpectedly still going’.
  • まだ走(はし)っている
    I am still running. (Although you probably didn’t expect it, I am still running)
  • まだ親(おや)がいるからゲームできない。
    My parents are still here, so I can't play games. (Although you probably didn’t expect it, my parents are still here)
  • まだ宿題(しゅくだい)があるから、遊(あそ)ばない
    I still have homework, so I can't hang out yet. (Although you probably didn’t expect it, I still have homework)
From these sentences, we can see that まだ may be translated in each case as the following.
(Non-past) - Although (A) is expected to not be there/happening, it is. ‘Still’ in English. (ている) - Although (A) is expected to not still be going, It is. ‘Not yet’ in English. The negative form of this will be discussed more in まだ~ていません.
This is the opposite of もう, which means ‘something is unexpectedly finished’.
まだ may also be used to ask questions. This is when the speaker thinks that something ‘might’ be continuing, but wants or needs to confirm.
  • まだ日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)ている
    Are you still studying Japanese?
Fun Fact
まだ is often used simply as an expression indicating that something is ‘lacking’, or ‘not yet’ where it needs to be. In these cases まだ is frequently repeated as まだまだ, for emphasis.
  • まだまだー。
    You are not ready for this. (You still STILL are not ready)
Slow Male
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冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)ケーキまだあります
There is still cake in the fridge.
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まだ食(た)べています
Are you still eating!?
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前(まえ)まだ早(はや)い
'It is still too early for you.'
Phrase used when someone is still not ready for something. For example, a parent might say this to a child who wants to try alcohol
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Online
Books
みんなの日本語 I
Page 50 [CH 7]
みんなの日本語 II
Page 36 [CH 30]
Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
Page 80