“mada mada・mada”: Still / Far From It (a long way to go) [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
An adverb for being still far from a goal or state
“mada mada・mada”: Still 〜 / Far From It (a long way to go)
まだ means “still, yet,” and まだまだ is its intensified form, meaning “still far from the goal/end, still very 〜.” E.g. 「10月なのに、まだまだ暑い」 (it's October, yet still very hot); when praised, modestly say 「私なんてまだまだです」 (I've still got a long way to go). The key is “a big distance still remains to that level/state.”
🧠 Core nuance: stressing “nowhere near enough, still a way to go”
The core is “not there yet, far short.” まだ is just “still”; doubling it in まだまだ doubles the force, stressing the great distance (still a long time, far from it). Common in: ① objective: still hot / not over yet; ② modesty: replying to praise with まだまだです (I've a long way to go); ③ encouragement: this is nothing, there's room to grow (まだまだ伸びる).
📌 Usage Overview
| Use | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| まだまだ ＋ adjective | still very 〜 | まだまだ寒い |
| まだまだです | (modest) far from it | 私なんてまだまだです |
| まだまだ ＋ potential | still can / still room | まだまだ成長する |
💬 Example Sentences
- 10月なのに、まだまだ暑い日が続く。(It's October, yet hot days still continue.) — still very
- 「日本語、上手ですね」「いえ、まだまだです」。(“Your Japanese is good.” “No, I've a long way to go.”) — modesty
- 彼は若いから、まだまだ成長するだろう。(He's young, so he'll keep growing.) — still potential
- 試合はまだまだこれからだ。(The match is far from over.) — not there yet
- 練習が足りない。まだまだだな。(Not enough practice — far from it.) — self-reflection
🔄 Compare: まだまだ vs まだ vs もう vs そろそろ
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| まだまだ | “still very / far from it” (stresses great distance) | まだまだ暑い |
| まだ | “still, yet” (simply not reached) | まだ寒い |
| もう | “already” (reached/done, opposite) | もう春だ |
| そろそろ | “about time to…” (the moment nears) | そろそろ行こう |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Reversing it with もう: still very 〜 uses まだまだ; already 〜 uses もう.
- Attaching completion/ending: ✗ まだまだ終わった (contradictory) → まだまだ means “not yet/far off,” not “already done.”
- The set modest reply: replying to praise with まだまだです is idiomatic — don't say もうです.
- Misusing the doubling: ✗ まだまだもう来た → まだまだ and もう are opposite, not used together.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
まだまだ is a super-practical everyday adverb: for a state not yet reached (still hot, not over yet), modestly replying to praise (まだまだです), or encouragement (still room to improve), with a vivid tone. It stresses “still far from the goal,” stronger than plain まだ. Modestly saying まだまだです is especially native — a common Japanese courtesy. Keep it distinct from the opposite もう. Practical from N4; tested at N2.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested: まだまだ = still very / far from it (emphatic); the intensified form of まだ.
- Must distinguish: まだまだ (not yet/far) vs もう (already) — opposite meanings.
- The modest reply 「まだまだです」 is a high-frequency set phrase.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「私の腕前なんて、___ですよ。」（還差得遠，謙虛）
(A) まだまだ (B) もう (C) もうすぐ (D) そろそろ
Q2. 「10月なのに、___暑い。」（還很熱）
(A) まだまだ (B) もう (C) すでに (D) とっくに
Q3. 「まだまだです」(受稱讚時)の意味は?
(A) 還差得遠（謙虛回應）
(B) 已經很厲害了
(C) 不需要學了
(D) 馬上就好
Q4. 「まだまだ」と「もう」の違いは?
(A) まだまだ＝還差得遠/還很;もう＝已經
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) まだまだ＝已經
(D) もう＝還很
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) 彼はまだまだ成長する。 (B) もう日が暮れていない(まだまだの意味)。
(C) まだまだ終わった。 (D) まだまだもう来た。
答案解析
1. (A) まだまだ ── 還差得遠(謙虛)。
2. (A) まだまだ ── 還很熱。
3. (A) ── 還差得遠(謙虛回應)。
4. (A) ── まだまだ 還差得遠;もう 已經。
5. (A) ── 「まだまだ成長する」正確。