まずまず
まずまず
adverb
fairly; more or less; passable
1.
fairly; more or less; passable; not bad
An understated positive evaluation meaning something is acceptable or reasonably good, though not outstanding. Conveys a reserved, characteristically Japanese form of moderate praise.
結果はまずまずだった。
The results were passable.
今日の試合はまずまずの出来だったと思う。
I think today's game was a fairly good performance.
初めてにしてはまずまずの成績で、先生にも褒められた。
For a first attempt, it was a passable result, and even the teacher praised me.
An evaluative adverb indicating something is acceptable or moderately good — not excellent, but satisfactory. Derived from repeating まず (first; at any rate), which itself can mean "reasonably."
USAGE:
- Expresses a mildly positive evaluation — "not perfect but good enough"
- Can function as an adverb modifying a noun with の: まずまずの結果 (passable results)
- Can also be used as a predicate: まずまずだ (it's passable)
- The tone is reserved — it avoids strong praise, which can feel very Japanese in its understatement
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- まずまずの成績: passable grades
- まずまずの結果: fairly good results
- まずまずの出来: decent work/performance
- まずまずの天気: fairly good weather
SIMILAR WORDS:
- そこそこ: so-so, moderate — similar but can imply slightly lower evaluation
- まあまあ: so-so, not bad — very similar; まあまあ is more common in casual speech
- 悪くない: not bad — a direct evaluation rather than hedged praise