What does it mean word for word?
The expression もう終わった？ literally means "already finished?" The word もう means "already" and 終わった is the past tense of the verb to end or finish.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form もう終わった？ is casual and should be used with friends, family or peers. For a polite level of speech, such as when speaking to a superior, use もう終わりましたか？ If you need a highly formal way to ask if someone is done, use お済みになりましたか？ In another informal variation, you can use もう終わったの？
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 終わった is the plain past tense form of the verb 終わる, used here to indicate the completion of an action. In Japanese, adding the particle か at the end of a sentence turns the statement into a question.
How do you pronounce it?
mō owatta?
When do people say it?
If someone asks you this question, a standard polite response is はい、終わりました (Yes, I am finished), while a standard casual response is うん、終わった (Yeah, I'm done).
Did you know?
- When asking if someone is done eating, Japanese speakers often use the word ごちそうさま ('it was a feast') as a signal that they have finished, rather than waiting for a question.
- The highly formal お済みになりましたか？ uses a special honorific construction called 'sonkeigo' which elevates the status of the person being asked.
- If you are asking if a person is done with a specific tool or a seat, Japanese speakers often swap the verb entirely. Instead of 'finishing', they might use verbs that mean 'to leave' or 'to be free from', depending on the context.
Examples in context
- お手紙を書き終えましたか？Have you finished writing the letter?
- はい、もう終わりました。Yes, I've finished.
- ゲームはもう終わったの？Are you done with the game?
- うん、もう終わったよ。Yes, I'm done.
- 宿題、もう終わった？shukudai, mou owatta?Are you done with your homework?
- レポートはもう終わった？repōto wa mou owatta?Are you done with the report?
- 仕事はもう終わった？shigoto wa mou owatta?Are you done with work?
Example conversation
Ren is waiting for Misaki to finish eating.
- 蓮 Ren美咲、もう終わった？Misaki, mō owatta?Misaki, are you done?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、もう終わったよ。un, mō owatta yo.Yeah, I'm done.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、行こうか。jā, ikō ka.Well, shall we go?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、行こう！un, ikō!Yeah, let's go!
