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
Drill the tone of 还 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 还
Simplified form of 還.
Not 不 moving 辶
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 还
Simplified form of 還.
- 1The giveawayNot 不 moving 辶
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 还? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 还?
Decomposition of 还
Identify the Components
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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.
Complete the Sentence
他____要去北京。
He still wants to go to Beijing.
Example Sentences for 还 (22)
Word Family of 还
Compound Meaning
What does 还 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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