What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a reduplication of the adverb mada, which means "still" or "yet". By repeating the word, it emphasizes that a state of being "not yet" at a certain level persists.
Which one should you use?
If you wish to be more polite, you can use the form まだまだです. For informal criticism, you might use 全然駄目, which means "not good at all".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, you can use 不十分 (insufficient), まだ十分ではない (still not sufficient) or the phrase お望みのレベルに達していません (it has not reached the desired level). In casual, informal conversations, 全然駄目 is used to say something is "not good at all".
How do you pronounce it?
mada mada
When do people say it?
まだまだ is commonly used as a humble response to a compliment. When someone praises your abilities, responding with this phrase shows modesty by suggesting you still have a long way to go.
Did you know?
- While English speakers might say 'I am not there yet', the Japanese まだまだ functions almost like a mantra of continuous improvement. It is common in martial arts and traditional crafts to signify a lifetime of study.
- If you use まだまだ too aggressively when someone is actually praising you, you might inadvertently imply that the person giving the praise is wrong or has bad judgment. It is a delicate balance of humility.
- The word まだまだ can also be used to describe a physical distance or a remaining amount of time, meaning 'there is still a long way to go'.
Examples in context
- 私のピアノはまだまだです。Watashi no piano wa madamada desu.My piano playing is not good enough yet.
- この料理はまだまだですね。Kono ryouri wa madamada desu ne.This dish is not quite good enough yet.
Example conversation
Yui praises Daigaku's piano playing.
- 結衣 Yuiピアノ、すごく上手だね！Piano, sugoku jouzu dane!You're really good at the piano!
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう。でも、まだまだだよ。Arigatou. Demo, madamada dayo.Thanks. But I'm not good enough yet.
- 結衣 Yuiそんなことないよ。Sonna koto nai yo.That's not true.
- 大翔 Hirotoもっと練習しなきゃ。Motto renshuu shinakya.I have to practice more.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry まだまだ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
