Meaning and Usage
The adverb 未だ (いまだ) means "yet" or "still," and it is used to express that something has not happened or changed up to the present moment. It often appears in formal or written contexts and can carry a slightly literary or serious tone.
Common Contexts
未だ is frequently used with negative verbs to emphasize that an expected action or change has not occurred yet, such as 未だに返事がない (still no reply). It can also express ongoing disbelief or unresolved situations.
Collocations and Patterns
- 未だに + negative verb: emphasizes that something continues not to happen (e.g., 未だに解決していない).
- 未だ + verb in negative form: indicates something is not done yet.
Register and Nuance
This word is more formal and often found in news reports, literature, or formal speech rather than casual conversation. Using 未だ in casual talk might sound stiff or old-fashioned.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 未だ with まだ, which also means "still" or "yet." While まだ is more common in everyday speech, 未だ is more formal and literary. Use 未だ when you want to sound more formal or when reading/writing formal texts.