Continuation with "hai"

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

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。Tā háizài kànshū.He is still reading.
• 我 还在 加班。Wǒ háizài jiābān.I am still working overtime.
• 十 点 了，你 还在 睡？Shí diǎn le, nǐ háizài shuì? It's ten o'clock, are you still sleeping?
• 你 还在 生气 吗？Nǐ háizài shēngqì ma? Are you still mad?
• 还在 用 那个 旧 手机 啊？Nǐ háizài yòng nàge jiù shǒujī a?Are you still using that old cell phone?

Special Uses of "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

• 你还 不 去 吃饭？ implying the listener should go to eatNǐ hái bù qù chīfàn?You still haven't eaten?
• 他 怎么 还 没 到？Tā zěnme hái méi dào? Why has he still not arrived?
• 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?
• 我 对 你 那么 好，你 还 不 满意？ implying the listener shouldn't be so glumWǒ duì nǐ nàme hǎo, nǐ hái bù mǎnyì? I'm so good to you, you're still not satisfied?
• 你们 还 没 下班？Nǐmen hái méi xiàbān?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