Continuation with "hai"
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Keywords
If you "still" need help on how to use 还 (hái), then this is the page for you.
Contents
还在 Followed by Verb
Structure
还 (hái) can be used to indicate that something is continuing - that it's still a particular way.
Subj. + 还在 + Verb
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?
- 你 还在 用 那个 旧 手机 啊?Are you still using that old cell phone?
还是 Followed by Verb
Here 还是 indicates things happened or will happen despite the situation.
Structure
Situation, (+ 但是 / 可是) Subj. + 还是 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 我 看 了 好 几 遍,还是 记 不 住。I read several times, but I still can't remember it.
- 父母 不 同意 他 去,可是 他 还是 去 了。He still went there although his patents disagreed.
- 医生 不 让 她 喝酒,但 她 还是 天天 喝。The doctor told her to stop drinking alcohol, but she still drinks it everyday.
- 老师 虽然 生病 了,但 还是 来 上课 了。The teacher still made it to the class although she got sick.
- 他 在 中国 住 了 两 年 多 ,还是 不 太 了解 中国 。 He lived in China for 10 years while he still doesn't know much about China.
Using 还 with 不 and 没
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 / 没 + Verb + Obj.
Examples
- 他 还 没 到。He hasn't arrived yet.
- 你还 没 吃饭? implying the listener should go to eatYou still haven't eaten?
- 你们 还 不 走?You have't left yet?
- 我 还 没 下班。I haven't finished work yet.
- 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?
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