By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
もう is an adverb that can mean “already”, “soon”, or “not anymore” depending on the context and whether it is used in a positive or negative sentence.
- Positive sentence: もう = already
- Negative sentence: もう～ません = not anymore
🔍 Structure
- もう + Verb (affirmative) → Already
- もう + Verb (negative) → Not anymore
📝 Example Sentences
- もう食べました。
Mou tabemashita.
I already ate. - もう帰ります。
Mou kaerimasu.
I’m going home now. - もうお金がありません。
Mou okane ga arimasen.
I don’t have money anymore. - もうしません。
Mou shimasen.
I won’t do it anymore.
📚 Grammar Notes
- In affirmative sentences, もう indicates something has already happened or is about to happen soon.
- In negative sentences, it implies that something no longer happens or exists.
- Often paired with past tense in positive sentences and present tense negative in negative ones.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Choose the correct meaning of もう in each sentence:
- もう起きました。
- もう来ません。
- もう終わりましたか。
✔ Answers:
- 1 – already
- 2 – not anymore
- 3 – already
2. Translate into Japanese:
- I already finished my homework.
- She doesn’t work here anymore.
- Have you already eaten?
✔ Sample Answers:
- もう宿題を終わりました。
- 彼女はもうここで働いていません。
- もう食べましたか。
🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown
| Word | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| もう | – | もう | Already / Anymore |
| 食べます | 食 | たべます | To eat |
| 帰ります | 帰 | かえります | To go home |
| お金 | お金 | おかね | Money |
| します | – | します | To do |
| 宿題 | 宿題 | しゅくだい | Homework |
| 終わります | 終 | おわります | To finish |
🔗 Related Grammar
- まだ – still / not yet
- もう～ましたか – Have you already ~ ?
- もう～ません – No longer / not anymore
🧠 Summary
- もう means “already” or “not anymore” depending on context.
- Used with affirmative or negative verbs.
- Level: JLPT N5
- Form: もう + Verb
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
