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"
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.
- 我 还 在 加班。I am still working overtime.
- 十点了，你 还 睡？It's ten o'clock, are you still sleeping?
- 你 还 在 喝 酒 吗？Are you still drinking?
- 你们 的 孩子 还 上学？Do your children still go to school?
- 还 笑？我 要 生气 了。Still laughing. I am getting mad.
- 他 还 在 吃饭。He is still eating.
- 还 写 作业 呢？Still making homework?
- 还 用 你 的 旧 手机 啊？Are you still using your old cellphone?
- 你 还 在 那里 工作？Are you still working there?
- 老板 还 不 知道 这 件 事。The boss still doesn't know about this thing.
- 不好意思，还 没 做 好。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
- 你还 不去吃饭？ (implying the listener should go to eat)You still haven't eaten?
- 我 对 你 那么 好，你还 不高兴？ (implying the listener shouldn't be so glum)I'm so good to you, you're still not happy?
- 你们 还 不 下 班？Are you still not off work?
- 他 怎么 还 不 来？Why has he still not come?
- 九点了，为什么 还 不 开始？It's nine o'clock, why have we still not started?
- 你 还 不 知道 他 是 什么 人？Do you still not know which person he is?
- 这么 大 了，还 不 结婚？That old and you are still not married?
- 你 还 不 说 实话？Are you still not telling the truth?
- 工作两年了，还 不 会 用 电脑？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。Still haven't gotten paid, I won't have any money soon.
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
