まあ (Maa) is a Japanese adverb meaning “just (e.g. "just wait here"), come now, now, now, tolerably”.
Meanings
- adverbjust (e.g. "just wait here"); come now; now, nowwhen urging or consoling
- adverbtolerably; passably; moderately; reasonably; fairly; rather
- adverbwell ...; I think ...; it would seem ...; you might say ...; Hmmm, I guess so ...when hesitating to express an opinion
- interjectionoh!; oh dear!; oh, my!; wow!; goodness gracious!; good heavens!
Examples
まあ、本当？
Oh no, really?
まあ無理ですな。
Well, you can't.
まあ、見てろよ。
Well, just you wait and see.
Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).