Difference between revisions of "Continuation with "hai""

m (Text replacement - "<span class="expl">(" to "<span class="expl">")
Line 52: Line 52:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你<em>还 不</em>去吃饭? <span class="expl">(implying the listener should go to eat)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>hái bù</em> qù chīfàn?</span><span class="trans">You still haven't eaten?</span>
+
* 你<em>还 不</em>去吃饭? <span class="expl">implying the listener should go to eat)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>hái bù</em> qù chīfàn?</span><span class="trans">You still haven't eaten?</span>
* 我 对 你 那么 好,你<em>还 不</em>高兴? <span class="expl">(implying the listener shouldn't be so glum)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ duì nǐ nàme hǎo, nǐ <em>hái bù</em> gāoxìng?</span><span class="trans">I'm so good to you, you're still not happy?</span>
+
* 我 对 你 那么 好,你<em>还 不</em>高兴? <span class="expl">implying the listener shouldn't be so glum)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ duì nǐ nàme hǎo, nǐ <em>hái bù</em> gāoxìng?</span><span class="trans">I'm so good to you, you're still not happy?</span>
 
* 你们 <em>还 不</em> 下 班?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>hái bù</em> xiàbān?</span><span class="trans">Are you still not off work?</span>
 
* 你们 <em>还 不</em> 下 班?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>hái bù</em> xiàbān?</span><span class="trans">Are you still not off work?</span>
 
* 他 怎么 <em>还 不</em> 来?<span class="pinyin">Tā zěnme <em>hái bù</em> lái?</span><span class="trans">Why has he still not come?</span>
 
* 他 怎么 <em>还 不</em> 来?<span class="pinyin">Tā zěnme <em>hái bù</em> lái?</span><span class="trans">Why has he still not come?</span>

Revision as of 07:44, 17 February 2016

If you "still" need help on how to use 还 (hái), then this is the page for you.

Basic uses of "还"

Structure

还 (hái) can be used to indicate that something is continuing - that it's still a particular way.

Subject + 还 + Verb + Object

Often the auxiliary verb 在 will appear with 还, as it is natural to talk about continuous actions that are still happening.

Examples

  • 在 看 书。hái zài kànshū.He is still reading.
  • 在 加班。hái zài jiābān.I am still working overtime.
  • 十点了,你 睡?Shí diǎnle, nǐ hái shuì?It's ten o'clock, are you still sleeping?
  • 在 喝 酒 吗?hái zài hējiǔ ma?Are you still drinking?
  • 你们 的 孩子 上学?Nǐmen de háizi hái shàngxué?Do your children still go to school?
  • 笑?我 要 生气 了。Hái xiào? Wǒ yào shēngqì le.Still laughing. I am getting mad.
  • 在 吃饭。hái zài chīfàn.He is still eating.
  • 写 作业 呢?Hái xiě zuòyè ne?Still making homework?
  • 用 你 的 旧 手机 啊?Hái yòng nǐ de jiù shǒujī a?Are you still using your old cellphone?
  • 在 那里 工作?hái zài nàlǐ gōngzuò?Are you still working there?
  • 老板 不 知道 这 件 事。Lǎobǎn hái bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.The boss still doesn't know about this thing.
  • 不好意思, 没 做 好。Bù hǎoyìsi, hái méi zuò hǎo.I'm sorry, I haven't finished yet.

Special uses of "还" with "不"

Structure

When you put 不 or 没 after 还 (hái) in a question sentence, it can be used to emphasize the idea of what should be happening in a more idiomatic way.

Subject + 还 不 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 还 不去吃饭? implying the listener should go to eat)hái bù qù chīfàn?You still haven't eaten?
  • 我 对 你 那么 好,你还 不高兴? implying the listener shouldn't be so glum)Wǒ duì nǐ nàme hǎo, nǐ hái bù gāoxìng?I'm so good to you, you're still not happy?
  • 你们 还 不 下 班?Nǐmen hái bù xiàbān?Are you still not off work?
  • 他 怎么 还 不 来?Tā zěnme hái bù lái?Why has he still not come?
  • 九点了,为什么 还 不 开始?Jiǔ diǎn le, wèishéme hái bù kāishǐ?It's nine o'clock, why have we still not started?
  • 还 不 知道 他 是 什么 人?hái bù zhīdào tā shì shénme rén?Do you still not know which person he is?
  • 这么 大 了,还 不 结婚?Zhème dà le,hái bù jiéhūn?That old and you are still not married?
  • 还 不 说 实话?hái bù shuō shíhuà?Are you still not telling the truth?
  • 工作两年了,还 不 会 用 电脑?Gōngzuò liǎng nián le,hái bù huì yòng diànnǎo?You've been working for two years already and you still can't use a computer?
  • 还 不 发 工资,我 快 没钱 了。Hái bù fā gōngzī, wǒ kuài méi qián le.Still haven't gotten paid, I won't have any money soon.

Sources and further reading

Books