Continuation with "hai"
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If you "still" need help on how to use 还 (hái), then this is the page for you.
Contents
Basic Uses of "还在"
Structure
还 (hái) can be used to indicate that something is continuing - that it's still a particular way.
Subj. + 还 + 在 + Verb + Obj.
Often the auxiliary verb 在 will appear with 还, as it is natural to talk about continuous actions that are still happening.
Examples
- 他 还在 看书。He is still reading.
- 我 还在 加班。I am still working overtime.
- 十 点 了,你 还在 睡?It's ten o'clock, are you still sleeping?
- 你 还在 生气 吗?Are you still mad?
- 还在 用 那个 旧 手机 啊?Are you still using that old cell phone?
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.
Subj. + 还不 + Verb + Obj.
Examples
- 你还 不 去 吃饭? implying the listener should go to eatYou still haven't eaten?
- 他 怎么 还 没 到?Why has he still not arrived?
- 九 点 了,为什么 还 不 开始?It's nine o'clock, why have we still not started?
- 我 对 你 那么 好,你 还 不 满意? implying the listener shouldn't be so glumI'm so good to you, you're still not satisfied?
- 你们 还 没 下班?Are you still not off work?
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 122) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 157) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 103) →buy