すでに vs. もう：How To Quickly Figure Them Out

Yuka

I know both すでに and もう mean ‘already,’ but I keep second-guessing which one to use!

Rei

They overlap a lot! The key difference is register and nuance — let me break it down so you can use them confidently.

Both すでに (既に) and もう can mean “already,” and in many sentences they’re interchangeable. But they differ in formality and sometimes in nuance. Mastering this distinction will sharpen your Japanese significantly.

At a Glance

すでに: Formal “Already”

すでに is the more formal, written counterpart. You’ll hear it in news broadcasts, business writing, and formal speech. It emphasizes that something happened before the current point in time.

• 会議はすでに始まっています。— The meeting has already started.
• その問題はすでに解決されました。— That problem has already been resolved.
• 彼はすでに知っていた。— He already knew.
• すでに手遅れです。— It’s already too late.
• 申込みはすでに締め切られました。— Applications have already closed.

もう: Everyday “Already” and Beyond

もう is much more versatile. It means “already” but also “anymore,” “soon,” and even expresses impatience or surprise on its own.

もう = already (casual):

• もう食べた？— Have you already eaten?
• もう着いた！— I’ve already arrived!
• もう知ってるよ。— I already know.

もう + negative = not anymore:

• もう食べられない。— I can’t eat anymore.
• 彼女のことはもう好きじゃない。— I don’t like her anymore.
• もう行かない。— I’m not going anymore.

もう as an exclamation:

• もう！どうして遅刻したの？— Geez! Why were you late?
• もう！やめてよ！— Ugh, stop it!

When Both Work (and When Only One Does)

Yuka

So if I’m writing an email at work I should use すでに, but in normal conversation もう is more natural?

Rei

Exactly! And remember: only もう can combine with a negative to mean ‘not anymore.’ すでに doesn’t work that way.

Quick Quiz

1. その件は___処理されました。(formal written) → すでに
2. ___ご飯食べた？(casual conversation) → もう
3. ___行かないと決めた。(not going anymore) → もう
4. ___！なんでそんなこと言うの！(impatient exclamation) → もう

Summary

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