“Still” in Chinese 4 – réngjiù and yījiù

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, both 仍舊旧 réngjiù and 依舊旧 yījiù mean “still” or “as before,” but they are used slightly differently in terms of nuance, formality, and context.

Structure

S + 仍舊旧 réngjiù + Adj or V

Common in both spoken and written language, though it leans slightly more formal. It often emphasizes the continuation of something despite expectations or time passing.

十shí年nián了le， 我wǒ的de中文zhōngwén仍舊réngjiù不bù好hǎo十shí年nián了le， 我wǒ的de中文zhōngwén仍旧réngjiù不bù好hǎo
It’s been ten years, and my Chinese is still not good.

他tā已經yǐjīng道歉dàoqiàn很hěn多duō次cì了le， 你nǐ仍舊réngjiù不bú願意yuànyì原諒yuánliàng他tā嗎ma？ 他tā已经yǐjīng道歉dàoqiàn很hěn多duō次cì了le， 你nǐ仍旧réngjiù不bú愿意yuànyì原谅yuánliàng他tā吗ma？
He’s already apologized many times. Do you still refuse to forgive him?

情況qíngkuàng仍舊réngjiù沒有méiyǒu改變gǎibiàn情况qíngkuàng仍旧réngjiù没有méiyǒu改变gǎibiàn
The situation is still unchanged.

我wǒ仍舊réngjiù記得jìdé你nǐ說shuō過guò的de每měi一yí句jù話huà我wǒ仍旧réngjiù记得jìdé你nǐ说shuō过guò的de每měi一yí句jù话huà
I still remember every word you said.

雖然suīrán中zhòng了le彩券cǎiquàn變成biànchéng千萬qiānwàn富翁fùwēng， 她tā仍舊réngjiù每天měitiān上班shàngbān虽然suīrán中zhòng了le彩券cǎiquàn变成biànchéng千万qiānwàn富翁fùwēng， 她tā仍旧réngjiù每天měitiān上班shàngbān
Even though she won the lottery and became a multimillionaire, she still goes to work every day.

S + 依舊旧 yījiù + Adj or V

More common in written or poetic language. It’s used to evoke a sense of sentimentality or timelessness.

她tā的de笑容xiàoróng依舊yījiù燦爛cànlàn， 你nǐ的de中文zhōngwén也yě依舊yìjiù很hěn爛làn她tā的de笑容xiàoróng依旧yījiù灿烂cànlàn， 你nǐ的de中文zhōngwén也yě依旧yìjiù很hěn烂làn
Her smile is still as radiant as ever, and your Chinese is still as bad as ever.

他tā依舊yījiù是shì那個nàge老樣子lǎoyàngzi他tā依旧yījiù是shì那个nàge老样子lǎoyàngzi
He’s still the same as before.

這次zhècì他tā依舊yījiù選擇xuǎnzé了le沈默shěnmò这次zhècì他tā依旧yījiù选择xuǎnzé了le沉默chénmò
This time, he still chose to remain silent.

儘管jǐnguǎn我wǒ離開líkāi紐約niǔyuē多年duōnián， 依舊yījiù懷念huáiniàn著zhe那裡nàlǐ的de貝果bèiguǒ尽管jǐnguǎn我wǒ离开líkāi纽约niǔyuē多年duōnián， 依旧yījiù怀念huáiniàn着zhe那里nàlǐ的de贝果bèiguǒ
Even though I left New York years ago, I still miss the bagels there.

時光shíguāng飛逝fēishì， 山河shānhé依舊yījiù时光shíguāng飞逝fēishì， 山河shānhé依旧yījiù
Time flies, but the mountains and rivers remain the same.

Comparison

To be honest, there’s no significant difference in meaning, so they can be used interchangeably in most sentences. The choice really depends on personal preference.

• “Still” in Chinese 1 – 還还 hái (HSK 2)

• “Still” in Chinese 2 – 仍然 réngrán (HSK 3)

• “Still” in Chinese 3 – 依然 yīrán (HSK 5)

• 5 Ways to say “Still” in Chinese