Languages › Japanese "Mazu" in Translation Print Moyan Brenn / Flickr / CC 2.0 Japanese Essential Japanese Vocabulary History & Culture Japanese Grammar By Namiko Abe Namiko Abe Japanese Language Expert B.A., Kwansei Gakuin University Namiko Abe is a Japanese language teacher and translator, as well as a Japanese calligraphy expert. She has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 01, 2019 The Japanese word mazu, pronounced "MAHt-zoo", is translated to mean "first", or "in the first place", as well as "about" and "almost", depending on the context. Japanese Characters Read More What Does the Japanese Word "Mata" Mean? By Namiko Abe まず Example Mazu shukudai o shite kara, asobinasai.まず宿題をしてから、遊びなさい。 Translation: Finish your homework first, then play. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Abe, Namiko. ""Mazu" in Translation." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/mazu-meaning-and-characters-2028663. Abe, Namiko. (2023, April 5). "Mazu" in Translation. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/mazu-meaning-and-characters-2028663 Abe, Namiko. ""Mazu" in Translation." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/mazu-meaning-and-characters-2028663 (accessed April 19, 2024). copy citation