Maa Maa  & Shimaimashita

We have received the following email from Christine. Thank you Christine.

“Thanks again. I have two special requests: まあまあ and しまいました. The first word seems like an insult to me, but Japanese people say no. The second word has some kind of special meaning that is hard to understand. Would you explain them sometime??” 

I will try to explain both of these in this newsletter.

Maa Maa

This word is used to evaluate things and as a word is used to calm a person who is angry. The first one we use in the first evaluation is “Maa Maa," which means not good but not bad. It basically means an average rating. It's similar to the English word "So So".

And the second, "so-so", is used to tell people to calm down and to not get so angry. In other words, you are asking them to calm down and bring their level of anger down. It's used as, “Maa Maa," don't get so angry.

Shimaimashita

“Shimamashita” is used to end a sentence. It is commonly used to say, “… o shite Shimamashita”.  This means that you have done something and it has ended in failure. “Osara o Watte Shimaimashita. I broke the plate.” You use this to express that you are sorry.

When you use "Osara o Watte Shimaimashita / I broke the plate" or “Kirawarete Shimaimashita / You hate me” you are describing something that is negative.

In addition, “Shimaimashita” has another meaning. It means to put something away. It is the same as “Katazukemashita.”

I hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask uz and we will do our best to answer them.