Meanings of 还
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About 还
Podcast: 还
Podcast: 还
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AI Study Notes for 还
还 (hái) vs 仍 (réng) — use 还 for ongoing states or additional quantities, while 仍 emphasizes persistence in a situation without implying addition.
Be cautious with the tone when using 还, as it is pronounced with a rising tone (hái). Common collocations include phrases like 还可以 (hái kěyǐ, 'still okay') and 还要 (hái yào, 'still want'). It's often misused in contexts where another word like 仍然 (réngrán, 'still') would be more appropriate.
As an HSK Level 2 word, 还 connects with other basic concepts like 也 (yě, 'also') and 要 (yào, 'want'). Focus on using it in simple sentences to express ongoing actions or additional information, which will enhance your conversational skills.
Learners often mistake 还 for other similar terms, such as 仍然. For example, saying '我仍然在等' (wǒ réngrán zài děng, 'I still wait') is incorrect; it should be '我还在等' (wǒ hái zài děng).
Pronunciation of 还
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Jason Explains 还 to You
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 还
Simplified form of 還.
Not 不 moving 辶
Origin
What kind of character is 还?
Decomposition of 还
Parts
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How to say still in Chinese
“still” in Chinese is还
The character 还 (hái) primarily means 'still' or 'yet' and is commonly used to indicate continuity or an ongoing state. It can also express the idea of returning something or being in the process of doing something. In addition, it can imply an additional quantity or degree, such as 'even more' or 'also'.
When to use 还
Be cautious with the tone when using 还, as it is pronounced with a rising tone (hái). Common collocations include phrases like 还可以 (hái kěyǐ, 'still okay') and 还要 (hái yào, 'still want'). It's often misused in contexts where another word like 仍然 (réngrán, 'still') would be more appropriate.
还 or something close to it
还 (hái) vs 仍 (réng) — use 还 for ongoing states or additional quantities, while 仍 emphasizes persistence in a situation without implying addition.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistake 还 for other similar terms, such as 仍然. For example, saying '我仍然在等' (wǒ réngrán zài děng, 'I still wait') is incorrect; it should be '我还在等' (wǒ hái zài děng).
Write 还
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Practice writing 还 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 还
还 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 16 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他____要去北京。
He still wants to go to Beijing.
Example Sentences for 还 (22)
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Word Family of 还
Words with 还
What does 还有 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 还
还 (hái) typically implies 'still' or 'yet' in a more casual context, while 仍然 (réngrán) suggests a more formal or literary usage.
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