Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟
This lesson is arriving a little late since I’ve been sick the past few days. Thanks for your patience!
I’m feeling better now, and I really wanted to get this one out to you.
We’re looking at the word 还 today. It’s short and simple, but it shows up everywhere in Mandarin. And it doesn’t always mean what you think! Today, we’ll go through the most useful meanings together.
Take your time. Read a bit, try a few sentences, and keep moving forward. That’s how real progress happens. Bit by bit. Gem by gem.
Let’s get started!
💎 This Week’s Gem: Mastering 还 (Part 1) 💎
The character 还 (hái) is everywhere in Chinese! You’ve probably learned it means “still” or “also,” but 还 has many more tricks up its sleeve. Today we’ll master the essential uses that every Chinese learner needs to know.
Don’t worry about memorizing everything at once, we’ll build from the most basic uses to slightly more advanced ones. By the end of today’s lesson, you’ll have a solid foundation for using 还 naturally!
⏳ “Still” Timeline Expressions
The most common use of 还 (hái) is expressing that something continues from before to now, or that something expected hasn’t happened yet. Think of 还 as your “timeline helper” that shows relationships between past, present, and future.
When you want to say someone is still doing something, combine 还 with 在 (zài). Remember how 在 can be used to describe ongoing actions, as we learned in CGG #61? The pattern 还在 (hái zài) emphasizes that an action is ongoing, often when you might expect it to stop. For example, 还在下雨 (hái zài xià yǔ) means “it’s still raining” - the rain started before and continues now.
For things that haven’t happened yet, use 还没 (hái méi) or 还没有 (hái méiyǒu). This implies the action is expected to happen later. Remember to use 没 (méi), not 不 (bù), because we’re talking about actions that haven’t occurred up to now.
You can also use 还 directly with adjectives to show a state continues unchanged. 还早 (hái zǎo) means it’s “still early,” while 还不晚 (hái bù wǎn) means it’s “not late yet.”
📚 Structures:
[Subject] + 还(在) + [Verb Phrase] (still doing)
[Subject] + 还没(有) + [Verb Phrase] (not yet)
[Subject] + 还 + [Adjective] (still + state)
Example 1
他还在睡觉。
他 / 还在 / 睡觉
Tā hái zài shuìjiào.
He’s still sleeping.
he / still / sleep
Example 2
我还没看那部电影。
我 / 还没 / 看 / 那 / 部 / 电影
Wǒ hái méi kàn nà bù diànyǐng.
I haven’t seen that movie yet.
I / not yet / watch / that / (measure word) / movie
➕ Adding Information
还 (hái) is a powerful way to add information, but it’s different from the simple 也 (yě) you learned for basic “also” statements. When 还 appears in the second part of a sentence, it means “in addition” or “furthermore,” like saying “not only that, but also...” This connects two related facts about the same subject and creates much more natural-sounding Chinese than just listing facts separately.
For even stronger emphasis, you can use 不仅...还... (bùjǐn...hái...) meaning “not only...but also.” The 不仅 (bùjǐn) introduces the first point, and 还 (hái) adds the impressive additional information. This connects to the progression patterns we learned in CGG #39-40.
📚 Structures:
[Statement 1], 还 + [Statement 2] (also, in addition)
不仅 + [Item 1], 还 + [Item 2] (not only...but also)
Example 1
这个餐厅菜好吃，还很便宜。
这个 / 餐厅 / 菜 / 好吃，/ 还 / 很 / 便宜
Zhège cāntīng cài hǎochī, hái hěn piányí.
This restaurant has good food, and it’s also very cheap.
this / restaurant / food / delicious, / also / very / cheap
Example 2
她不仅漂亮，还很聪明。
她 / 不仅 / 漂亮，/ 还 / 很 / 聪明
Tā bùjǐn piàoliang, hái hěn cōngming.
She’s not only beautiful, but also very smart.
she / not only / beautiful, / also / very / smart
🔙 Different Word: 还 (huán)
Here’s where 还 gets interesting. It’s actually two different words! When pronounced huán, 还 becomes a verb meaning “to return” or “to give back.” This has nothing to do with the 还 (hái) we’ve been learning.
You’ll recognize verb 还 (huán) when it directly precedes objects that can be borrowed or returned, such as books, money, umbrellas, favors etc. The context makes it clear: 还书 (huán shū) means “return books,” and 还钱 (huán qián) means “pay back money.”
This verb 还 (huán) often appears in the 把 (bǎ) sentence pattern we learned in CGG #21-22. The structure 把...还给...(bǎ...huán gěi...) means”to return something to someone” and is extremely practical for everyday situations involving borrowed items.
📚 Structures:
[Subject] + 还 + [Object] (return something)
[Subject] + 把 + [Object] + 还给 + [Person] (return something to someone)
Example 1
我明天还书。
我 / 明天 / 还 / 书
Wǒ míngtiān huán shū.
I’ll return the book tomorrow.
I / tomorrow / return / book
Example 2
把钱还给他。
把 / 钱 / 还给 / 他
Bǎ qián huán gěi tā.
Return the money to him.
(object marker 把) / money / return to / him
Curious about your Mandarin mastery?
How many words, characters, or chengyu can you recognize?
📝 Recap
Using 还在 (hái zài): Emphasizes that an action is ongoing when you might expect it to stop. This shows something continues from before to now.
Using 还没(有) (hái méi(yǒu)): Indicates that an expected action hasn’t happened yet but is likely to occur later. Always use 没 (méi), not 不 (bù), since we'‘re talking about actions that haven’t occurred up to now.
Using 还 + adjective: Shows that a state or condition continues unchanged from before. This direct combination creates natural expressions for ongoing states.
Using 还 (hái) for adding information: Different from simple 也 (yě), this connects two related facts about the same subject, meaning “in addition” or “furthermore” when it appears in the second part of a sentence.
Using 不仅...还... (bùjǐn...hái...): A formal structure meaning “not only...but also” where 不仅 (bùjǐn) introduces the first point and 还 (hái) adds impressive additional information for stronger emphasis.
Using 还 (huán) as a verb: When pronounced huán, this becomes a completely different word meaning “to return” or “give back.” Context makes it clear when dealing with borrowed items like books or money.
Using 把...还给... (bǎ...huán gěi...): A practical structure meaning “return something to someone” that combines the 把 (bǎ) sentence pattern with the return verb.
⛏️ Practice Makes Perfect
Now it’s time to put 还 into action! These exercises will help you master all the different faces of this versatile character. Remember, choosing between 还在, 还没, or other structures isn’t just about grammar rules, it’s about expressing exactly what you mean in the most natural way. Try translating these sentences and notice how 还 creates different meanings depending on its context and companions. Ready? Let’s practice!
🌱 Easy
My little sister hasn’t finished her homework yet.
He can speak Chinese and also Japanese.
Grandma is still very healthy at ninety years old.
When will you pay back the money?
🌳 Advanced
My roommate is still binge-watching that Korean drama at three in the morning.
The impact of climate change on biodiversity hasn’t been fully understood yet.
The museum decided to return the ancient artifacts to Egypt.
This social media influencer not only promotes questionable products, but also spreads misinformation about health.
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That’s a wrap for today!
This weekend, look out for your PM Translation and PM Comprehension worksheets. They’ll give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned and keep improving your Mandarin skills.
Happy learning,
Pierre 🐼