“Still” in Chinese 3 – 依然 yīrán

Grammar Point:
依然 yīrán is a Chinese adverb that means “still,” “yet,” or “as before.” It’s used to indicate that a particular situation or condition remains unchanged despite the passage of time or other circumstances.

Structure

S + 依然 yīrán + V

媽媽māma雖然suīrán已經yǐjīng退休tuìxiū， 她tā依然yīrán每天měitiān都dōu在zài學xué新xīn事物shìwù妈妈māma虽然suīrán已经yǐjīng退休tuìxiū， 她tā依然yīrán每天měitiān都dōu在zài学xué新xīn事物shìwù
Even though my mother has retired, she still learns new things every day.

已經yǐjīng過guò了le10 年nián， 但dàn這zhè份fèn合約héyuē依然yīrán有效yǒuxiào已经yǐjīng过guò了le10 年nián， 但dàn这zhè份fèn合约héyuē依然yīrán有效yǒuxiào
It’s been 10 years, but this contract is still valid.

即使jíshǐ遇到yùdào挫折cuòzhé， 他tā依然yīrán保持bǎochí樂觀lèguān的de態度tàidù即使jíshǐ遇到yùdào挫折cuòzhé， 他tā依然yīrán保持bǎochí乐观lèguān的de态度tàidù
Despite facing setbacks, he maintains a positive attitude.

就算jiùsuàn工作gōngzuò很hěn忙máng， 他tā依然yīrán會huì找zhǎo出chū時間shíjiān陪伴péibàn家人jiārén就算jiùsuàn工作gōngzuò很hěn忙máng， 他tā依然yīrán会huì找zhǎo出chū时间shíjiān陪伴péibàn家人jiārén
Even with a busy job, he still manages to find time to spend with his family.

即使jíshǐ年紀niánjì漸jiàn長zhǎng， 他tā依然yīrán有yǒu著zhe一顆yìkē開放kāifàng的de心xīn即使jíshǐ年纪niánjì渐jiàn长zhǎng， 他tā依然yīrán有yǒu着zhe一颗yìkē开放kāifàng的de心xīn
Despite getting older, he still has an open mind.

S + 依然 yīrán + Adj

多年duōnián沒méi見jiàn， 你nǐ依然yīrán那麼nàme惹人厭rěrényàn多年duōnián没méi见jiàn， 你nǐ依然yīrán那么nàme惹人厌rěrényàn
Long time no see, you’re still as annoying as ever.

這zhè地方dìfāng依然yīrán和hàn我wǒ記憶jìyì中zhōng的de一樣yíyàng美麗měilì这zhè地方dìfang依然yīrán和hé我wǒ记忆jìyì中zhōng的de一样yíyàng美丽měilì
This place is still as beautiful as I remember it from years ago.

爸爸bàba的de想法xiǎngfǎ從cóng不bù改變gǎibiàn， 依然yīrán非常fēicháng頑固wángù爸爸bàba的de想法xiǎngfǎ从cóng不bù改变gǎibiàn， 依然yīrán非常fēicháng顽固wángù
Dad’s thoughts never change; he’s still very stubborn.

奶奶nǎinai的de身體shēntǐ依然yīrán和hàn年輕niánqīng時shí一樣yíyàng健康jiànkāng奶奶nǎinai的de身体shēntǐ依然yīrán和hé年轻niánqīng时shí一样yíyàng健康jiànkāng
Grandma’s body is still as healthy as when she was young.

我wǒ以為yǐwéi換huàn一個yíge老師lǎoshī中文zhōngwén就jiù會huì變biàn簡單jiǎndān， 但是dànshì依然yīrán很hěn難nán我wǒ以为yǐwéi换huàn一个yíge老师lǎoshī中文zhōngwén就jiù会huì变biàn简单jiǎndān， 但是dànshì依然yīrán很hěn难nán
I thought changing to a different teacher would make Chinese easier, but it’s still difficult.

還还 hái, 仍然 réngrán and 依然 yīrán

All three words, 還还 hái, 仍然 réngrán, and 依然 yīrán, can be translated as “still” in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts and convey nuanced meanings:

還还 hái: It can mean “still” in the sense of “yet” or “not yet.” It’s often used to indicate that a situation hasn’t changed up to a certain point in time. It’s more commonly used in questions or negative statements.

仍然 réngrán: It emphasizes the continuation of a situation, quality, or state that hasn’t changed despite expectations or circumstances. It’s often used to describe a consistent condition that remains over time. It’s also less colloquial than 還还 hái.

依然 yīrán: 依然 yīrán is similar to 仍然 réngrán and also emphasizes the persistence of a situation or quality. However, it can sometimes carry a sense of “as before” or “in the same way as it has been. It’s also the most formal among these three.

Idiom

依然故我 yīrán gùwǒ

It can be translated as “to be one’s old self.” It implies that someone remains unchanged and continues to act as they always have. In a somewhat negative context, it can also mean “to be stuck in one’s ways,” suggesting that someone is resistant to change and refuses to adapt to new circumstances.

他tā之前zhīqián因為yīnwèi酒駕jiǔjià出chū了le車禍chēhuò， 本běn以為yǐwéi他tā會huì學xué到dào教訓jiàoxùn， 沒想到méixiǎngdào他tā依然故我yīrán gùwǒ他tā之前zhīqián因为yīnwèi酒驾jiǔjià出chū了le车祸chēhuò， 本běn以为yǐwéi他tā会huì学xué到dào教训jiàoxùn， 没想到méixiǎngdào他tā依然故我yīrán gùwǒ
He had a car accident due to drunk driving before, and I thought he would learn his lesson. However, he still remains unchanged.

大家dàjiā都dōu嘗試chángshì阻止zǔzhǐ他tā把bǎ錢qián拿ná去qù賭博dǔbó， 但dàn他tā依然故我yīrángùwǒ， 最後zuìhòu輸shū得de什麼shénme也yě不bú剩shèng大家dàjiā都dōu尝试chángshì阻止zǔzhǐ他tā把bǎ钱qián拿ná去qù赌博dǔbó， 但dàn他tā依然故我yīrángùwǒ， 最后zuìhòu输shū得de什么shénme也yě不bú剩shèng
Everyone tried to stop him from gambling away his money, but he remained stubborn, and in the end, he lost everything.

Practice

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✔️ The salary was like this 10 years ago, and it remains the same 10 years later.

10 年nián前qián的de薪水xīnshuǐ是shì這樣zhèyàng， 10 年nián後hòu依然yīrán是shì這樣zhèyàng10 年nián前qián的de薪水xīnshuǐ是shì这样zhèyàng， 10 年nián后hòu依然yīrán是shì这样zhèyàng

✔️ I didn’t know where my future was back then, and I still don’t know now.

我wǒ以前yǐqián不知道bùzhīdào自己zìjǐ的de未來wèilái在zài哪裡nǎlǐ， 現在xiànzài依然yīrán不知道bùzhīdào我wǒ以前yǐqián不知道bùzhīdào自己zìjǐ的de未来wèilái在zài哪里nǎlǐ， 现在xiànzài依然yīrán不知道bùzhīdào

✔️ I can’t afford a house now, and I still won’t be able to afford one after retirement.

我wǒ現在xiànzài買不起mǎibùqǐ房子fángzi， 退休tuìxiū後hòu依然yīrán也yě買不起mǎibùqǐ房子fángzi我wǒ现在xiànzài买不起mǎibùqǐ房子fángzi， 退休tuìxiū后hòu依然yīrán也yě买不起mǎibuqǐ房子fángzi

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

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

• “Still” in Chinese 4 – 依舊旧 yījiù and 仍舊旧 réngjiù (HSK 5)

• 5 Ways to say “Still” in Chinese

• All different 然 rán in Chinese