もはや
mohaya
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
already; no longer; by now
もはや is an adverb meaning "by now (things have changed so much that)": もはや手遅れだ (it is already too late), もはや若くない (no longer young). It stresses that a situation has reached a point of no return. With a negative it means "no longer"; with an affirmative it means "already, by now".
Formal written Japanese and serious speech: commentary, essays, dramatic dialogue. Stronger and more final than もう. Typical predicates: 手遅れだ・不可能だ・〜ない・珍しくない・当たり前だ.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
もはや + negative (no longer)もはや + affirmative (already, by now)Set: もはや手遅れだ / もはやこれまでだ (this is the end)
Visual diagram
もう
already / no longer (neutral, everyday)
今や
now (a new situation has arrived, often positive)
もはや
by now, irreversibly (formal, final, often resigned)
もう
already / no longer (neutral, everyday)
今や
now (a new situation has arrived, often positive)
もはや
by now, irreversibly (formal, final, often resigned)
Natural examples
もはや手遅れだ。
もはやておくれだ。
It is already too late.
もはや手遅れだ: the standard phrase of finality.
彼はもはや以前のような若さはない。
かれはもはやいぜんのようなわかさはない。
He no longer has the youthfulness he once had.
With a negative: no longer has the youthfulness.
紙の辞書はもはや珍しいものになった。
かみのじしょはもはやめずらしいものになった。
Paper dictionaries have by now become a rarity.
With an affirmative: paper dictionaries have by now become rare.
スマートフォンは、もはや生活に欠かせない存在だ。
スマートフォンは、もはやせいかつにかかせないそんざいだ。
Smartphones have by now become indispensable to daily life.
Affirmative: an irreversible change.
彼を説得することは、もはや不可能だと悟った。
かれをせっとくすることは、もはやふかのうだとさとった。
I realised that persuading him was no longer possible.
Resignation.
Similar grammar and the difference
"Ever since X, things have changed": marks the turning point rather than the present finality. Compare side by side
"Reaching the point of": also marks a stage reached, but as a verb phrase. Compare side by side
"Is in the process of changing": ongoing, whereas もはや says the change is complete. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- もはや宿題を終えた。
- ✓
- もう宿題を終えた。
- Why
- Everyday completed actions take もう; もはや is for irreversible changes of situation.
- ✗
- もはや、まだ間に合う。
- ✓
- まだ間に合う。
- Why
- もはや and まだ contradict each other.
- ✗
- もはや若くなった。
- ✓
- もはや若くない。
- Why
- The predicate should show a situation that has changed for good, typically a negative or a final state.
もはやこれまでだ is a dramatic phrase meaning "this is the end". It often appears in headlines and editorials about social change. The feeling is one of finality; do not use it for everyday completions.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- A formal sentence about an irreversible change + adverb blank → もはや.
- Distractors: まだ, やがて, 今にも. Check the predicate: 手遅れ / 不可能 / 珍しくない point to もはや.
- It can pair with both affirmative and negative predicates; do not assume it needs a negative.
Frequently asked questions
What does もはや mean?
already; no longer; by now. もはや is an adverb meaning "by now (things have changed so much that)": もはや手遅れだ (it is already too late), もはや若くない (no longer young). It stresses that a situation has reached a point of no return. With a negative it means "no longer"; with an affirmative it means "already, by now".
How do you form もはや?
もはや + negative (no longer) / もはや + affirmative (already, by now) / Set: もはや手遅れだ / もはやこれまでだ (this is the end). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is もはや used?
Formal written Japanese and serious speech: commentary, essays, dramatic dialogue. Stronger and more final than もう. Typical predicates: 手遅れだ・不可能だ・〜ない・珍しくない・当たり前だ.
What is the difference between もはや and 〜てからというもの?
"Ever since X, things have changed": marks the turning point rather than the present finality.
What is the difference between もはや and 〜に至る / 〜に至って(は)?
"Reaching the point of": also marks a stage reached, but as a verb phrase.
What is a common mistake with もはや?
Wrong: もはや宿題を終えた。 Right: もう宿題を終えた。 Everyday completed actions take もう; もはや is for irreversible changes of situation.
Quick check
ここまで来たら、（ ）引き返すことはできない。