How to Say “Still” with 还 (hái)
还 (hái) for “still” marks something that hasn’t changed yet. 还在 + Verb is an action still in progress (你还在工作？ “still working?”); 还是 + Verb means it happened anyway, despite everything (我们还是出发了, “we still set off”); 还 + 不/没 + Verb is a pointed “still hasn’t / still doesn’t?” (你还没起床？). Keep it apart from 再 (“again”).
Why this trips learners up
Beyond its “also” and “fairly” jobs, 还 (hái) has a core meaning every learner needs: “still” — something is the same as before, unchanged, still going. It shows up in three shapes.
1. 还在 + Verb — still in progress. 还 pairs naturally with the progressive 在 to say an action is still happening: 你还在工作？(“you’re still working?”), 我妈妈六十岁了，还在学英语 (“my mom is sixty and still learning English”). The 在 carries the “-ing”; 还 adds “still.”
2. 还是 + Verb — anyway, despite everything. After a concession (often with 但是/可是), 还是 (háishì) means it happened regardless: 大家都劝他，他还是辞职了 (“everyone tried to talk him out of it, but he still quit”). This 是 has no meaning of its own — don’t read it as “is,” and don’t mix it up with the choosing 还是 (“A or B?”).
3. 还 + 不/没 + Verb — the pointed “still hasn’t?”. Put 不 or 没 after 还 to press that something should have happened by now — usually as a rhetorical question: 都几点了，你还没起床？(“look at the time — you’re still not up?”), 我说了这么多，你还不明白？(“I’ve said so much — you still don’t get it?”). The order is fixed: 还没 / 还不, never 没还 / 不还.
The big trap is 还 (“still”) vs 再 (“again”). 还 is the same action continuing, or not-yet-done: 他还在睡 (“he’s still asleep”). 再 is a new repetition, usually later: 明天再来 (“come again tomorrow”). And because a 还在 action is ongoing, it takes no 了 — 他还在睡, not 他还在睡了 (了 would mark a change, the opposite of “still”).
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
dōu shí’èr diǎn le 都十二点了 Time nǐ 你 Subject hái 还 Pattern zài 在 Function word gōngzuò 工作 Verb
It’s midnight and you’re still working? (还在 — still in progress).
wǒ māma liùshí suì le 我妈妈六十岁了 Subject hái 还 Pattern zài 在 Function word xué 学 Verb Yīngyǔ 英语 Object
My mom is sixty and still learning English (还在 — admiringly).
zhège wèntí 这个问题 Object wǒ 我 Subject hái 还 Pattern zài 在 Function word xiǎng 想 Verb gěi wǒ yìdiǎn shíjiān 给我一点时间 Verb
I’m still thinking about this problem — give me a little time (还在).
dàjiā dōu quàn tā 大家都劝他 Time tā 他 Subject háishì 还是 Pattern cízhí 辞职 Verb le 了 Function word
Everyone tried to talk him out of it, but he still quit (还是 — anyway).
dōu jǐ diǎn le 都几点了 Time nǐ 你 Subject hái 还 Pattern méi 没 Negation qǐchuáng 起床 Verb
Look at the time — you still haven’t gotten up? (还 + 没 — rhetorical).
yǔ xià de hěn dà 雨下得很大 Time wǒmen 我们 Subject háishì 还是 Pattern chūfā 出发 Verb le 了 Function word
It was pouring, but we still set off (还是 — despite the weather).
wǒ shuō le zhème duō 我说了这么多 Time nǐ 你 Subject hái 还 Pattern bù 不 Negation míngbai 明白 Verb
I’ve explained so much — you still don’t understand? (还 + 不 — rhetorical).
gōngjiāochē 公交车 Subject děng le èrshí fēnzhōng 等了二十分钟 Time hái 还 Pattern méi 没 Negation lái 来 Verb wǒmen dǎchē ba 我们打车吧 Verb
The bus still hasn’t come after twenty minutes — let’s grab a taxi (还 + 没).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 还 means “still” — the same action continuing. “Again, another time” is 再: 他还在睡觉 (“he’s still sleeping”), not 他再在睡觉. 还 = ongoing/now; 再 = a fresh repetition, usually later.
Why it happens: The negative goes AFTER 还: 还没 / 还不. It’s 老师还没到 (“the teacher still hasn’t arrived”), never 没还到. 还 first, then 不/没.
Why it happens: A 还在 action is still going, so it takes no 了 — 了 marks a change or completion, which contradicts “still.” It’s 他还在睡觉, not 他还在睡觉了.
Compare & contrast
| 还 — still (same action, ongoing / not yet) | 再 — again (a new repetition, later) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 还在说hái zài shuō | 再说一遍zài shuō yí biàn | 还在说 = “still talking” (the same conversation, continuing). 再说一遍 = “say it again” (a fresh repetition). |
| 还没好hái méi hǎo | 明天再来míngtiān zài lái | 还没好 = “still not ready” (not yet — an ongoing wait). 明天再来 = “come again tomorrow” (repeat the action another time). |
Try it yourself
Say “He’s still watching TV.” — Subject + 还 + 在 + verb phrase.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Still” with 还 (hái) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.