もう（もう、mou）
- already

The Japanese word もう has several meanings and functions, making it a versatile and commonly used word. Primarily, it conveys the ideas of "already," "soon," "anymore," or "besides/also." Its specific meaning depends heavily on the context of the sentence. もう can also function as an interjection, expressing feelings like surprise, annoyance, or emphasis.

⚫︎もう 食べました。 Translation: I have already eaten. ⚫︎もう すぐ 着きます。 Translation: We will arrive soon. ⚫︎もう 行きたくない。 Translation: I don't want to go anymore. ⚫︎もう、いい加減にして！ Translation: Come on, stop it! (Used to express annoyance.)

⚫︎When used to mean "already," もう indicates that an action has been completed or a state has been reached. It typically appears before the verb. ⚫︎When used to mean "soon," もう suggests an event will happen in the near future. It usually comes before the verb. ⚫︎When used to mean "anymore" or "no longer," もう is placed before the verb or adjective, usually with a negative conjugation. ⚫︎As an interjection, もう is often used at the beginning of a sentence to add emphasis or express emotion.

もう is written in hiragana. There is no kanji for もう in its basic usage.

⚫︎"Already": すでに (sude ni), とっくに (tokkuni, informal). ⚫︎"Soon": まもなく (mamonaku), じきに (jiki ni). ⚫︎"Anymore": This concept is usually expressed with negative verb conjugations and もう.

⚫︎"Yet/Not yet": まだ (mada)

もう 10時だよ！遅刻するよ。 ・Translation: It's already 10 o'clock! You're going to be late. ・Explanation: In this sentence, もう emphasizes the lateness of the hour, and indicates that the speaker believes the person will be late.

この本はもう読み終わった？ ・Translation: Have you already finished reading this book? ・Explanation: Here, もう inquires whether the action of reading the book is complete.

The etymology of もう isn't definitively known, but it's likely a combination of sounds, evolving to express concepts of completion or nearing a point. It's considered an adverbial particle that has developed over time within the Japanese language.