还
still; also; even (more)
hái
What does 还 mean?
还 (hái) is a high-frequency adverb that does several jobs English splits across different words. (1) 'Still' — an action or state continuing: 我还在工作 ('I'm still working'), 他还没来 ('he hasn't come yet'). (2) 'Also / in addition' adding another item: 我要茶，还要一杯水 ('I want tea, and also a glass of water'). (3) 'Even more' in comparisons: 今天比昨天还热 ('today is even hotter than yesterday').
(4) Softening filler in spoken evaluation: 还可以 ('it's okay / not bad'), 还行 ('alright'). The same character also reads huán and means 'to return (something)' — 还钱 (return money), 还书 (return a book) — but that's a different word that just shares a glyph. For HSK 2, hái is what you need: it almost always sits before the verb, and
Character breakdown
still; also (hái) / to return (huán). The 辶 walking radical hints at 'going back' for the huán meaning.
Memory hook: Hear hái as 'hi, still here!' — the action hasn't stopped yet.
Example sentences
他还没回家。
Tā hái méi huí jiā.
He hasn't gone home yet.
neutral
我还想再喝一杯茶。
Wǒ hái xiǎng zài hē yì bēi chá.
I'd like another cup of tea.
spoken
今天比昨天还冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái lěng.
Today is even colder than yesterday.
neutral
你最近怎么样？还可以。
Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? Hái kěyǐ.
How have you been recently? Not bad.
spoken
我还有一个问题。
Wǒ hái yǒu yí ge wèntí.
I have one more question.
neutral
Common phrases with 还
Synonyms
也 ('also') links a parallel subject: 我喜欢茶，他也喜欢 (I like tea, he also likes it). 还 ('also' / 'in addition') adds another item to the same subject: 我喜欢茶，还喜欢咖啡 (I like tea, and also coffee).
仍然 ('still') is the formal/written equivalent of 还 in the 'still continuing' sense. 他仍然在工作 sounds bookish; 他还在工作 is everyday speech.
Don't confuse 还 with
再 = 'again / once more (in the future).' 还 = 'still' or 'in addition.' Classic beginner confusion: 我再去一次 (I'll go again) vs 我还在那儿 (I'm still there).
海 ('sea / ocean') is third tone with the water radical 氵. 还 (hái) is second tone. Sound similar to learners; characters look nothing alike.
孩
FAQ
Acquire by listening
Hear 还 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.
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