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、大丈夫だろう。
Well, it'll probably be okay.
まあ、待ってください。
Now, please wait.
まあまあ、落ち着いて。
Now, now, calm down.
2.
my!, oh!
An exclamation expressing surprise (often used by women).
まあ、驚いた！
Oh my, what a surprise!
Often used by women
まあ、素敵！
Oh my, how lovely!
まあ、大変！
Oh dear!
まあ、久しぶり！
Oh my, it's been so long!
まあ、こんなに大きくなって！前に会ったときはまだ小さかったのに。
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.
まあまあの結果だった。
The results were so-so.
まあまあ美味しい。
It's fairly good.
まあまあだね。
It's so-so.
まあまあ元気です。
I'm doing fairly well.
まあまあの成績だった。
The grades were passable.
A versatile word with different nuances depending on context and intonation.
USAGE 1 - HESITATION/MODESTY:
- 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、大丈夫だろう (Well, it'll probably be okay)
USAGE 2 - SURPRISE (feminine):
- まあ、素敵！(Oh my, how lovely!)
- まあ、大変！(Oh dear!)
USAGE 3 - SO-SO:
- まあまあ (so-so, not bad)
- まあまあ美味しい (fairly good)
USAGE 4 - CALMING:
- まあまあ、落ち着いて (Now, now, calm down)