How to Say "I'm Not Done Yet" in Japanese: まだ終わっていません and まだです
Learn to say you're not finished, it's not over, or not yet in Japanese using まだ終わっていません and まだです. Clear patterns, polite examples, and a natural dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
If you want to say "I'm not done yet" in Japanese, the most direct and safe answer is まだ終わっていません (mada owatte imasen). This literally means "I have not finished yet." For a shorter reply, まだです (mada desu) works in many situations to mean "not yet." This lesson teaches both forms, shows how they connect to "it's not over yet," and gives you reusable patterns for real conversations.
By the end, you can…
- say "I'm not done yet" using まだ終わっていません.
- use まだです to mean "not yet" in short answers.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
まだ終わっていません。
I'm not done yet. / It hasn't finished yet.
mada owatte imasen
Polite, neutral statement about an unfinished task or process. Use in formal or general contexts.
まだです。
Not yet.
mada desu
Short, polite reply. Works when someone asks if something is finished or if you are ready.
まだ終わっていない。
It's not over yet. / I'm not done yet.
mada owatte inai
Plain, casual form. Use with close friends, family, or in casual writing.
まだ終わっていませんか。
Isn't it finished yet? / Are you not done yet?
mada owatte imasen ka
Polite question. Useful to check on progress without sounding rude.
まだ終わっていませんでした。
It was not finished yet. / I had not finished yet.
mada owatte imasen deshita
Polite past tense. Use when talking about a past situation that was still unfinished.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is まだ + 終わっていません. まだ means "still" or "not yet," and 終わっていません is the polite negative form of "has not finished." For example, まだ終わっていません (mada owatte imasen) means "I'm not done yet." To talk about something not being over, you can say まだ終わっていない (mada owatte inai) in casual speech. For a simple "not yet," use まだです (mada desu). These patterns let you express unfinished states without changing the basic structure.
When to use it
Use まだ終わっていません in polite situations: at work, with acquaintances, or when speaking to someone older. If a colleague asks 終わりましたか (owarimashita ka, "Are you finished?"), you can reply いいえ、まだ終わっていません (iie, mada owatte imasen). Use まだです when you want a short, polite answer: まだですか (mada desu ka, "Not yet?") can be answered with はい、まだです (hai, mada desu). In casual conversation with friends, まだ終わっていない is natural. Avoid using plain forms with superiors unless you are very close.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
レポートはもう終わりましたか。
Have you finished the report yet?repōto wa mō owarimashita kaいいえ、まだ終わっていません。
No, I'm not done yet.iie, mada owatte imasenそうですか。あとどのくらいかかりますか。
I see. About how much longer will it take?sō desu ka. ato dono kurai kakarimasu kaあと三十分ぐらいです。まだ終わっていない部分があります。
About thirty more minutes. There are parts that are not finished yet.ato sanjuppun gurai desu. mada owatte inai bubun ga arimasuA little context goes a long way
Japanese often uses まだ with a negative to soften the message. Saying まだ終わっていません is more polite than a flat 終わっていません because it emphasizes that the action is still in progress, not simply incomplete. In business settings, adding すみません (sumimasen) before the phrase can make it sound more considerate.
One thing to watch for
Using まだ終わっていません to mean "I haven't started yet."
Try this instead: まだ終わっていません means "I'm not finished yet," implying you have started. If you haven't started, say まだ始めていません (mada hajimete imasen). Example: レポートはまだ始めていません (repōto wa mada hajimete imasen, "I haven't started the report yet").
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your coworker asks if you are finished. You are not. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
まだ終わっていません。
This directly means "I'm not done yet" and is polite. まだです is also acceptable in short replies, but まだ終わっていません is more explicit.
2How do you say "Not yet" in a short, polite answer?
Show a sample answer
まだです。
まだです is a concise polite way to say "not yet." In casual speech, まだだ (mada da) is possible, but まだです is safer with acquaintances.
3Translate into casual Japanese: "It's not over yet."
Show a sample answer
まだ終わっていない。
This uses the plain negative form. In polite speech, say まだ終わっていません. Both are correct; choose based on formality.
Use まだ終わっていません for polite "I'm not done yet," まだです for a short "not yet," and まだ終わっていない in casual talk. Remember that まだ implies something is still in progress.
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