Japanese - もう: Already

The word もう means already, although it can also mean no longer or soon.

When もう is used in a positive context, it means already.

The bus already left.	バス　は　もう　出でた。basu wa mou deta.
It's already 10 o'clock. (You)'d better go soon.	もう　十じゅう時じ　だ。　そろそろ　行いった　方ほう　が　いい。mou juuji da. sorosoro itta hou ga ii.

In negative sentences, もう instead means no longer or anymore.

I don't want to go anymore.	もう　行いきたく　ない。mou ikitaku nai.
The end is near. There's no longer any time left.	終おわり　が　近ちかい　です。　もう　時じ間かん　が　ありません。owari ga chikai desu. mou jikan ga arimasen.

You may also hear もう used at the start of a sentence to express irritation.

I've had enough.	もう　たくさん　です。mou takusan desu.
Stop it already.	もう　やめて。mou yamete.

See the below table for some further examples of these different uses of the word.

Did you already finish work?	仕し事ごと　は　もう　終おえました　か。shigoto wa mou oemashita ka.
It's already been^become 4 years since I graduated from university.	大だい学がく　を　卒そつ業ぎょうして　から、　もう　四よ年ねん　に　なった。daigaku o sotsugyoushite kara, mou yonen ni natta.
Skydiving was scary. I will never do it again.	スカイダイビング　は　怖こわかった　です。　もう　二に度どと　やりません。sukaidaibingu wa kowakatta desu. mou nidoto yarimasen.

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