依然 yīrán sits right after the subject and before a verb or an adjective, quietly insisting that nothing has changed — the feeling, the fact, or the person is still exactly as it was.
1 Structure
S + 依然 yīrán + V
依然 yīrán sits right before the verb, showing an action or habit that continues unchanged.
媽媽雖然已經退休，她依然每天都在學新事物妈妈虽然已经退休，她依然每天都在学新事物
Even though my mother has retired, she still learns new things every day.
已經過了10年，但這份合約依然有效已经过了10年，但这份合约依然有效
It’s been 10 years, but this contract is still valid.
即使遇到挫折，他依然保持樂觀的態度即使遇到挫折，他依然保持乐观的态度
Despite facing setbacks, he maintains a positive attitude.
就算工作很忙，他依然會找出時間陪伴家人就算工作很忙，他依然会找出时间陪伴家人
Even with a busy job, he still manages to find time to spend with his family.
即使年紀漸長，他依然有著一顆開放的心即使年纪渐长，他依然有着一颗开放的心
Despite getting older, he still has an open mind.
S + 依然 yīrán + Adj
依然 yīrán can also sit right before an adjective, describing a quality or state that hasn’t budged.
多年沒見，你依然那麼惹人厭多年没见，你依然那么惹人厌
Long time no see, you’re still as annoying as ever.
這地方依然和我記憶中的一樣美麗这地方依然和我记忆中的一样美丽
This place is still as beautiful as I remember it from years ago.
爸爸的想法從不改變，依然非常頑固爸爸的想法从不改变，依然非常顽固
Dad’s thoughts never change; he’s still very stubborn.
奶奶的身體依然和年輕時一樣健康奶奶的身体依然和年轻时一样健康
Grandma’s body is still as healthy as when she was young.
我以為換一個老師中文就會變簡單，但是依然很難我以为换一个老师中文就会变简单，但是依然很难
I thought changing to a different teacher would make Chinese easier, but it’s still difficult.
2 還还 hái, 仍然 réngrán and 依然 yīrán
All three can be translated as “still,” but they don’t sit at the same register or carry quite the same nuance.
| Word |
Register |
Usage |
| 還还 hái |
Most colloquial |
Leans toward “yet” or “not yet” — often used in questions or negative statements to show a situation hasn’t changed by a certain point. The most colloquial and most commonly used of the three. |
| 仍然 réngrán |
Neutral |
Emphasizes that a situation, quality, or state continues despite expectations or circumstances. More formal than 還还 hái, and common in both writing and more formal speech. |
| 依然 yīrán |
Most formal |
Similar to 仍然 réngrán and also stresses persistence, but often carries a sense of “just as it always has been.” The most formal and most written of the three. |
3 Idiom
依然故我 yīrán gùwǒ
Literally “still my old self” — it means someone remains unchanged and keeps acting as they always have. Used negatively, it implies being stuck in one’s ways, resistant to change or advice.
他之前因為酒駕出了車禍，本以為他會學到教訓，沒想到他依然故我他之前因为酒驾出了车祸，本以为他会学到教训，没想到他依然故我
He had a car accident due to drunk driving before, and I thought he would learn his lesson. However, he still remains unchanged.
大家都嘗試阻止他把錢拿去賭博，但他依然故我，最後輸得什麼也不剩大家都尝试阻止他把钱拿去赌博，但他依然故我，最后输得什么也不剩
Everyone tried to stop him from gambling away his money, but he remained stubborn, and in the end, he lost everything.
4 Common Mistakes
Using 依然 yīrán in a sentence that has no “persisted / could have changed” idea behind it.
❌
我昨天依然去了超市我昨天依然去了超市
This sounds odd because there’s no “it was like this before, and it’s still like this now” idea — a plain statement like “went yesterday” doesn’t need 依然 yīrán at all.
✅
我昨天去了超市我昨天去了超市
✅
雖然下大雨，我依然去了超市虽然下大雨，我依然去了超市
This version works, because the heavy rain could reasonably have changed the plan, but he went anyway — that “could have changed but didn’t” contrast is exactly where 依然 yīrán belongs.
Useful Pattern · 雖然虽然 A，但是／可是 B 依然……
A handy structure: A is a reason that could plausibly have changed things, and B shows that the outcome didn’t actually change.
雖然遇到了很多困難，他依然沒有放棄虽然遇到了很多困难，他依然没有放弃
Although he encountered many difficulties, he still didn’t give up.
雖然兩個人已經分開很多年了，他依然記得她虽然两个人已经分开很多年了，他依然记得她
Although they have been apart for many years, he still remembers her.
Here, 依然 yīrán highlights exactly that contrast: there was a reason for things to change — but they didn’t.
5 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01We had a fight a week ago, and he still won’t talk to me.
我們吵架後已經一個星期了，他依然不跟我說話我们吵架后已经一个星期了，他依然不跟我说话
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02Even though the forecast said it would rain, I still decided to go hiking.
就算天氣預報說會下雨，我依然決定出去爬山就算天气预报说会下雨，我依然决定出去爬山
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03Even though the doctor told him to drink less coffee, he still drinks three cups a day.
雖然醫生叫他少喝咖啡，他依然每天喝三杯虽然医生叫他少喝咖啡，他依然每天喝三杯
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04It’s been five years since graduation, and we still keep in touch.
畢業已經五年了，我們依然保持聯絡毕业已经五年了，我们依然保持联络
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05After dieting for half a year, his weight is still unchanged.
減肥了半年，他的體重依然沒有改變减肥了半年，他的体重依然没有改变
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06Even after moving abroad, she still writes her diary in Chinese every day.
就算搬到了國外，她依然每天用中文寫日記就算搬到了国外，她依然每天用中文写日记
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07This shop has been open for almost ten years, and business is still good.
這家店開了快十年，生意依然很好这家店开了快十年，生意依然很好
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08Even though he already apologized, I still feel upset inside.
雖然他已經道歉了，我心裡依然很難受虽然他已经道歉了，我心里依然很难受
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09He changed to a new job, but the salary is still not high.
他換了新工作，但薪水依然不高他换了新工作，但薪水依然不高
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10Even though everyone opposed it, she still insisted on her own decision.
就算大家都反對，她依然堅持自己的決定就算大家都反对，她依然坚持自己的決定
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