How to Say ‘Oh no, I still have a long way to go.’ in Japanese
いえいえ、まだまだです。
ie ie madamada desu
[EE-eh EE-eh mah-dah-MAH-dah dess]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This modest reply to a compliment is exactly what a Japanese speaker would say. Simply accepting the praise can come across as a little boastful.
Phrase Breakdown
いえいえ、
ie ie
No, no
A modest way to wave off a compliment. Say 'i-e i-e' lightly, with a short pause after it.
いえいえ、大丈夫です。
No, no, it's fine.
Words in this phrase
いえ
ie
[EE-eh]
no (not at all)
Repeated いえ softens it into a polite 'don't mention it'.
いえいえ、大丈夫ですよ。
No no, it's fine.
いえ
ie
[EE-eh]
no (not at all)
Repeated いえ softens it into a polite 'don't mention it'.
いえいえ、大丈夫ですよ。
No no, it's fine.
まだまだです。
madamada desu
I still have a long way to go.
'mada' means 'still / not yet'. Repeating it adds humility. Say 'ma-da-ma-da-des'.
料理はまだまだです。
My cooking still needs work.
Words in this phrase
まだまだ
madamada
[mah-dah-MAH-dah]
still a long way to go; not yet good
Humble reply to praise, meaning one still has much to learn.
私の英語はまだまだです。
My English still has a long way to go.
です
desu
[dess]
is; am; are
A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'
田中です。
I am Tanaka.
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