まあまあ (Maa maa): When 'so-so' is an art form

You go to see a new movie, and your friends eagerly ask, "Was it good?". You don't want to say it was 'bad' (つまらない) because it had some interesting points, but you can't quite praise it as 'good' (面白い) either. Your mind is a jumble, and a perfect answer seems nonexistent.

This is when the ultimate trick 「まあまあ」takes the stage! 👑

What's so miraculous about 「まあまあ」? 🤔

Literally, 「まあまあ」(maa maa) means 'so-so', 'alright', 'average', or 'not bad' in English. It's the savior for situations where you need to give a lukewarm assessment, neither too positive nor too negative.

It's not a complaint, but it's certainly not a hearty compliment either. It's a safe and very subtle gray area.

The "stages" for まあまあ

Let's see how the Japanese use this trick in real life!

1. Evaluating something (Movies, restaurants, etc.)

This is the most common usage. When you're not completely impressed but not too disappointed either.

👩 A: 昨日オープンしたラーメン屋、どうだった？ (Kinoo oopun shita raamen'ya, dou datta? - How was the ramen shop that opened yesterday?)

👨 B: うーん、まあまあかな。まずくはないけど、また行きたいってほどでもない感じ。 (Uun, maa maa ka na. Mazuku wa nai kedo, mata ikitai tte hodo demo nai kanji. - Hmm, it was so-so, I guess. Not bad, but not good enough to make me want to go again.)

👉 Analysis: B's answer shows the restaurant is acceptable. Not disappointing, but nothing special to rave about. An honest but not harsh review.

2. Showing humility (When praised)

When someone praises you, especially for a skill, using 「まあまあ」 is a very natural way to respond.

👱‍♀️ A: 〇〇さん、日本語お上手ですね！ (〇〇-san, Nihongo ojouzu desu ne! - Mr./Ms. 〇〇, your Japanese is very good!)

👨‍🦱 B: いえいえ、まあまあです。まだまだ勉強中です。 (Ieie, maa maa desu. Madamada benkyouchuu desu. - Not at all, it's just so-so. I'm still learning.)

👉 Analysis: Instead of completely denying it ("iie, sonna koto nai desu"), this answer humbly admits that one knows a little, but not to the 'good' level of the compliment. It shows humility without being fake.

3. Reassuring, comforting someone

This is a lesser-known nuance of 「まあまあ」. When said in a gentle tone, it has a calming and reassuring effect.

👦 A: どうしよう、面接で失敗しちゃった…もうだめだ… (Doushiyou, mensetsu de shippai shichatta... Mou dame da... - What should I do, I failed the interview... It's all over...)

🧑 B: まあまあ、そんなに落ち込まないで。次があるよ！ (Maa maa, sonna ni ochikoma naide. Tsugi ga aru yo! - There, there, don't be so down. There's always a next time!)

👉 Analysis: Here, 「まあまあ」 acts like a gentle pat on the back, a comforting word like "Now, now, calm down." It helps to soothe the situation and pull the other person out of negativity.

Conclusion: The power of being in-between ✨

In a culture that values harmony and avoids direct conflict, 「まあまあ」 is an indispensable communication tool. It helps you give your opinion honestly without offending anyone, show humility without devaluing yourself.

Next time you're in a situation that's hard to judge, don't hesitate to use 「まあまあ」! It's not just 'so-so,' it's an art of communication. 😉