もう その しゃっきん は かえした。
mou sono shakkin wa kaeshita.
I already paid back that debt.
Now, listen up. もう (mou) is like your crew’s enforcer. It’s the word you use when somethin’ is done, finished, or happened already. It puts that final nail in the coffin, tellin’ everyone, “Yo, that’s a wrap. We ain’t gotta do that no more.” It’s that feeling you get when you’ve done the job, cashed the check, and you’re out the door. It signals that a state of being or an action is complete. It’s a simple word, but it carries weight. It’s like tellin’ the competition, “The game’s over, and we already won.”
You can also use もう to talk about a point in time or a quantity that’s been reached. Like, “It’s already 3 a.m., man. Time to bounce.” Or, “Yo, that’s already three times you messed up the drop-off.” It’s a quick way to get your point across, you feel me?
You already know もう (mou) don’t change. It’s a real OG. But let’s see how it plays with others. We’re gonna see how it’s used to mean “already,” “anymore,” and “enough.”
| English Example | English Translation | Hiragana Example | Romaji Example |
| already | I already paid the fee. | もう おかね を はらった。 | mou okane wo haratta. |
| anymore | I can’t take this anymore. | もう これ いじょうむりだ。 | mou kore ijou muri da. |
| enough | That’s enough already. | もう いいかげん に して。 | mou iikagen ni shite. |
See how it works? It’s all about context. The same word can mean different things, depending on the situation. It’s like a good lookout—he knows when to say “Go!” and when to say “Stop!” based on what he sees.
Here are some words you need to know to survive on these streets:
むり (Muri)
English: Impossible; no way.
When you tellin’ me I can’t get this money, that’s impossible. When you tellin’ me you won’t get your chain snatched, that’s impossible. It’s like when somebody tries to run up on you, and you just laugh ’em off. That’s a “muri” situation, ya dig? It ain’t happenin’.
ショバだい (Shobadai)
English: Turf tax; protection money.
Listen up. Every crew gotta respect the territory. The shobadai is that paper you pay to operate in somebody else’s hood. It’s the cost of doin’ business, you know? Like when the local mob boss tells you, “You wanna sell on my block? You gotta pay your dues.” That’s the protection money right there. You pay it, or you get dealt with. Simple as that.
ケジメ を つけた (Kejime o tsuketa)
English: He squared things away.
This is a serious one, fam. When you mess up, you gotta kejime o tsuketa. It means you took care of the situation, you fixed your mistake, and you made things right. It ain’t just sayin’ “my bad.” It’s about showin’ respect and takin’ the heat. It could be anything from payin’ a debt you owe to somethin’ much more serious. It’s about havin’ honor, like in those old school gangster flicks.
たいきん (Taikin)
English: A large sum of money.
Taikin is that big stack of paper. That suitcase full of cash. That loot you get after a major score. It’s what everyone in the game is chasin’. When you see a baller flashin’ that thick wad of bills, that’s taikin. It’s the kind of money that can change your whole life, put your whole crew on.
ケツ を わった (Ketsu o watta)
English: He confessed; he snitched.
You gotta be careful with this one. When somebody ketsu o watta, they broke. They couldn’t handle the pressure and they told on their crew. It’s the ultimate act of disrespect, a betrayal. Think of a rat in the cage, talkin’ to the cops, sellin’ out his partners. That’s what this means. Don’t be that dude.
Yo, let’s peep these sentences to see how we use もう (mou) in the real world. You’ll see how the crew uses it for all kinds of situations.
もう おそい。
mou osoi.
It’s already too late.
もう、 この シノギ は カタギ には むり だ ぜ。
Mou, kono shinogi wa katagi ni wa muri da ze.
This hustle is already too much for a civilian.
ショバだい は もう はらった から、 だれ も もんく は いえない はず だ。
Shobadai wa mou haratta kara, dare mo monku wa ienai hazu da.
We already paid the protection money, so nobody should be able to complain.
もうケジメをつけたんだ
Mou kejime o tsuketanda
I’ve already settled the score.
おれ は もう この シノギ で たいきん を かせいだ ぜ。
Ore wa mou kono shinogi de taikin o kaseida ze.
I already earned a big fortune with this hustle.
もう だれも しんじねぇ。
mou daremo shinji ne.
I don’t trust anyone anymore.
もう この まち には いられねぇ。
mou kono machi niwa irare ne.
I can’t stay in this town anymore.
もう あにき には あえない。
mou aniki niwa aenai.
I can’t meet my big bro anymore.
おれたちの ケツ を わった やつ は もう ここ には いない。Oretachi no ketsu o watta yatsu wa mou koko ni wa inai.
The guy who snitched on us is not here anymore.
あにき は もう カタギ には もどれない だろう な。
Aniki wa mou katagi ni wa modorenai darou na.
Big bro probably can’t go back to being a civilian anymore.
Stay dangerous, stay learnin’. Peace.
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