Continuation with "hai"

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

• 他 还 在 看 书。He is still reading.
• 现在 还 早。It's still early (now).
• 你们 还 小。You are all still young.
• 你 还 在 喝 酒？Are you are still drinking?

还 can also be used in a more idiomatic way to emphasize the idea of what should be happening:

• 你还不去吃饭？ (implying the listener should go to eat)
• 我 对 你 那么 好，你还不高兴？ (implying the listener shouldn't be so glum)

Sources and further reading

Books

• 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