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还háistill; still in progress

HSK 1word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

还 (hái) means "still" for a continuing action or state, and "still more" or "even more" in comparisons. It can also add another action by the same subject, like English "and also." This entry is the adverb hái, not huán "to return."

What does 还 mean?

  1. 1.

    still; still in progressadverb

  2. 2.

    still more; yet; even moreadverb

  3. 3.

    in addition; alsoadverb

What does the character 还 mean?

  • 还still; still in progress

How do you use 还?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    Subj. + 还在 + [Verb Phrase]

    还在 marks that an action or state is still going on.

  2. 2

    Subj. + Verb + Obj. 1，还 + Verb + Obj. 2

    With one subject doing two different things, 还 links the second action like "and also."

  3. 3

    Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 还 + Adj.

    In a comparison, 还 before an adjective means "even more" or "still more," often with a tone of surprise.

Read 还 as hái here; the verb "to return / pay back" is a different reading, huán. Do not confuse single-character 还 with the choice word 还是.

Patterns

  • 还在 + Verb

    她还在工作。

    Tā hái zài gōngzuò.

    She is still working.

  • 还 + Verb

    我有书，还有水。

    Wǒ yǒu shū, hái yǒu shuǐ.

    I have books, and I also have water.

What are some examples of 还 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 1

    他还在睡觉。

    Tā hái zài shuìjiào.

    He is still sleeping.

  2. HSK 1

    我要茶，还要水。

    Wǒ yào chá, hái yào shuǐ.

    I want tea, and I also want water.

  3. HSK 2

    今天比昨天还热。

    Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái rè.

    Today is even hotter than yesterday.

  4. HSK 2

    已经中午了，你还在忙？

    Yǐjīng zhōngwǔ le, nǐ hái zài máng?

    It's already noon—are you still busy?

How is 还 different from 还是

还 (hái) can add another item, like “and also.” 还是 (hái shi) marks a choice between options, like “or.”

Only 还 fits here

我要茶，还要水。

Wǒ yào chá, hái yào shuǐ.

I want tea, and I also want water.

How is 还 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    他在睡觉吗？

    Tā zài shuìjiào ma?

    Is he sleeping?

  2. Speaker B:

    他还在睡觉。

    Tā hái zài shuìjiào.

    He is still sleeping.

  3. Speaker A:

    你要什么？

    Nǐ yào shénme?

    What do you want?

  4. Speaker B:

    我要茶，还要水。

    Wǒ yào chá, hái yào shuǐ.

    I want tea, and I also want water.

  5. Speaker A:

    今天热不热？

    Jīntiān rè bu rè?

    Is it hot today?

  6. Speaker B:

    今天比昨天还热。

    Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái rè.

    Today is even hotter than yesterday.

Can you use 还 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 他___在睡觉。
  2. 2.Fill in the blank: 我要茶，___要水。
  3. 3.Which reading and meaning fit this entry?

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.