Chinese expressing “still” with 還 hái

Table of Contents

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the word 還还 hái can be translated as “still” or “yet” in certain contexts. It is commonly used to indicate that a particular situation or state continues to exist or remains unchanged.

Structure

S + 還还 hái + Adj

When there are multiple adverbs in a sentence, 還还 hái is placed before the other adverbs (except 也 yě), including negation.

時間shíjiān還hái早zǎo，你nǐ不要búyào一直yìzhí催cuī时间shíjiān还hái早zǎo，你nǐ不要búyào一直yìzhí催cuī
It’s still early, please don’t rush me.

現在xiànzài外面wàimiàn還hái太tài熱rè，我們wǒmen晚wǎn點diǎn再zài出門chūmén吧ba现在xiànzài外面wàimian还hái太tài热rè，我们wǒmen晚wǎn点儿diǎnr再zài出门chūmén吧ba
It’s still too hot outside, let’s go out later.

我的wǒde錢qián還hái不bú夠gòu，你nǐ能néng借我jièwǒ嗎ma？我的wǒde钱qián还hái不bú够gòu，你nǐ能néng借我jièwǒ吗ma？
I don’t have enough money yet, can you lend me some?

你nǐ還hái太tài小xiǎo，不bù可以kěyǐ進jìn這zhè家jiā店diàn你nǐ还hái太tài小xiǎo，不bù可以kěyǐ进jìn这zhè家jiā店diàn
You’re still too young, you can’t enter this store.

你的nǐde咖啡kāfēi還hái熱rè嗎ma？要yào不要búyào我wǒ幫bāng你nǐ加熱jiārè？你的nǐde咖啡kāfēi还hái热rè吗ma？要yào不要búyào我wǒ帮bāng你nǐ加热jiārè？
Is your coffee still hot? Do you want me to heat it up for you?

S + 還还 hái + V

我wǒ也yě還hái沒méi找zhǎo到dào工作gōngzuò我wǒ也yě还hái没méi找zhǎo到dào工作gōngzuò
I also haven’t found a job yet.

下午xiàwǔ一點yìdiǎn了le，你nǐ還hái不bù吃飯chīfàn嗎ma？下午xiàwǔ一点yìdiǎn了le，你nǐ还hái不bù吃饭chīfàn吗ma？
It’s already 1:00 p.m., aren’t you going to eat yet?

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì還hái沒méi跟gēn你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu說shuō「我wǒ愛ài你nǐ」？你nǐ是不是shìbúshì还hái没méi跟gēn你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyou说shuō「我wǒ爱ài你nǐ」？
Have you still not said “I love you” to your girlfriend?

FYI
In Western culture, “I love you” carries significant weight and is considered a profound expression of affection between romantic partners. However, in Chinese culture (including Taiwan and China), the meaning of “我愛爱你” (wǒ ài nǐ, I love you) can be different. For some older generations in China, expressing “我愛爱你” might be challenging because they grew up in an environment where emotional expressions were often more conservative and reserved.
However, for young couples, “我愛爱你” is often the first step in a relationship, and many people casually say it to their significant others. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that “我愛爱你” in Chinese carries the same depth and weight as “I love you” in Western culture. In Chinese, the weight of “我愛爱你” is more similar to “I like you” in Western culture. So, if you’re dating someone who speaks Chinese, don’t be surprised if they say “我愛爱你” to you in the early stage. It may not necessarily signify the same level of intensity as in Western culture but rather express their liking and affection.