▎還, hái, (Adv), still (unchanged, incomplete) (1)

 

Function The adverb 還 indicates that a situation in question remains unchanged or in a certain state, ‘still’.

1 現在時間還早，學生都還沒到。

Xiànzài shíjiān hái zǎo, xuéshēng dōu hái méi dào.

It’s still too early. The students haven’t arrived yet.

2 來的客人還太少，喜宴還不能開始。

Lái de kèrén hái tài shǎo, xǐyàn hái bù néng kāishǐ.

A lot of our guests are not here yet. The wedding reception can’t start yet.

3 現在天氣還太冷，不可以去游泳。

Xiànzài tiānqì hái tài lěng, bù kěyǐ qù yóuyǒng.

It’s still too cold yet for swimming.

 

Structures When there is more than one adverb in a sentence, 還 occurs before other adverbs (except 也yě), including negation.This is referred to as ‘hierarchy’ of adverbs. 也 is on top, followed by 還.

Negation：

1 我的錢還不夠，不能付學費。

Wǒ de qián hái bú gòu, bù néng fù xuéfèi.

I still don’t have enough money. I can’t pay tuition.

2 現在天氣還不熱，我們去東部旅行吧！

Xiànzài tiānqì hái bú rè, wǒmen qù dōngbù lǚxíng ba!

It’s not too hot (there) yet. Let’s take a trip to the east. (i.e., eastern Taiwan)

3 他剛回國，找工作還不順利。

Tā gāng huíguó, zhǎo gōngzuò hái bú shùnlì.

He just returned from overseas. His job situation still isn’t going smoothly.

Questions： Whenever an adverb is used in a sentence, the 是不是shìbúshì question structure is used in front of it.

1 你的錢是不是還不夠租套房？

Nǐ de qián shìbúshì hái bú gòu zū tàofáng?

Do you not have enough money to rent a flat?

2 你喝得這麼慢，牛肉湯還很熱嗎？

Nǐ hē de zhème màn, niúròu tāng hái hěn rè ma?

You are eating that bowl of beef soup rather slowly. Is it still hot?

3 十二點的飛機，現在六點，去機場是不是還太早？

Shí'èrdiǎn de fēijī, xiànzài liùdiǎn, qù jīchǎng shìbúshì hái tài zǎo?

The flight is at 12:00. It’s now six. Isn’t it too early to go to the airport?

 

Usage The adverb 還 has a variety of meanings and English translations depend on context.

(1) ‘still, yet’

1 我們還沒決定。你有什麼建議？

Wǒmen hái méi juédìng. Nǐ yǒu shénme jiànyì?

We haven’t made the decision yet. Do you have any suggestions?

2 可是我說中文，還說得不夠流利。

Kěshì wǒ shuō Zhōngwén, hái shuō de bú gòu liúlì.

However, I still do not speak Chinese fluently enough.

3 菜還很多，你要多吃一點。

Cài hái hěn duō, nǐ yào duō chī yìdiǎn.

There’s still plenty of food. Have some more.

4 這個工作的薪水還不夠付小孩的學費，他得再找另外一個工作。

Zhè ge gōngzuò de xīnshuǐ hái bú gòu fù xiǎohái de xuéfèi, tā děi zài zhǎo lìngwài yí ge gōngzuò.

The pay for this job is not enough to cover his child’s school fees. He has to find another job.

(2) ‘additionally, in addition to’

1 昨天晚上肚子很不舒服，還吐了好幾次。

Zuótiān wǎnshàng dùzi hěn bù shūfú, hái tùle hǎojǐ cì.

Last night, my stomach didn’t feel well. I even threw up several times.

2 下了課要寫作業，還要準備第二天的課。

Xiàle kè yào xiě zuòyè, hái yào zhǔnbèi dìèr tiān de kè.

After class, homework has to be done and class for the following day prepared for. (Or After class, I/we/you have to do homework and prepare for class the next day.)

3 他還有兩個姐姐。

Tā hái yǒu liǎng ge jiějie.

He has two more sisters.