まあ

まあ
interjection / adverb
well; my!; so-so
1. well, now
Used when making a modest, hesitant, or transitional statement.
まあ、仕方(しかた)ないか。
Well, I guess it can't be helped.
まあ、いいでしょう。
Well, that should be fine.
まあ、そうですね。
Well, I suppose so.
まあ、大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)だろう。
Well, it'll probably be okay.
まあ、待(ま)ってください。
Now, please wait.
まあまあ、落(お)ち着(つ)いて。
Now, now, calm down.
2. my!, oh!
An exclamation expressing surprise (often used by women).
まあ、驚(おどろ)いた！
Oh my, what a surprise!
Often used by women
まあ、素敵(すてき)！
Oh my, how lovely!
まあ、大変(たいへん)！
Oh dear!
まあ、久(ひさ)しぶり！
Oh my, it's been so long!
まあ、こんなに大(おお)きくなって！前(まえ)に会(あ)ったときはまだ小(ちい)さかったのに。
Oh my, you've grown so much! You were still little the last time we met.
3. more or less, so-so
Indicating something is acceptable but not exceptional.
まあまあの結果(けっか)だった。
The results were so-so.
まあまあ美味(おい)しい。
It's fairly good.
まあまあだね。
It's so-so.
まあまあ元気(げんき)です。
I'm doing fairly well.
まあまあの成績(せいせき)だった。
The grades were passable.

A versatile word with different nuances depending on context and intonation.

USAGE 1 - HESITATION/MODESTY:

USAGE 2 - SURPRISE (feminine):

USAGE 3 - SO-SO:

USAGE 4 - CALMING:

core
Added 2026.1.12 21:24 · Revised 2026.5.27 23:10
03500/03728_maa