Expressing tones with hái

Grammar Point:
In Mandarin Chinese, the word 還还 hái can be used to convey a surprised or sarcastic tone, and it can be employed in rhetorical questions as well. It adds emphasis or disbelief to a statement, often suggesting surprise or skepticism about something that has been said or done.

Structure

S + hái + Noun Phrase

It is used to convey negative emotions like dissatisfaction or sarcasm.

還hái一輩子yíbèizi的de承諾chéngnuò， 結果jiéguǒ結婚jiéhūn一個月yígeyuè就jiù外遇wàiyù了le还hái一辈子yíbèizi的de承诺chéngnuò， 结果jiéguǒ结婚jiéhūn一个月yígeyuè就jiù外遇wàiyù了le
What a lifetime commitment, ended up having an affair just one month after marriage.

還hái閨蜜guīmì咧lie， 竟然jìngrán跟gēn我先生wǒxiānshēng搞gǎo在zài一起yìqǐ还hái闺蜜guīmì咧lie， 竟然jìngrán跟gēn我先生wǒxiānsheng搞gǎo在zài一起yìqǐ
What a best friend! She slept with my husband.

FYI
閨蜜 guīmì refers to a woman’s closest and most intimate female friend. It signifies a deep and trusted friendship, similar to the concept of a “best friend.” but only for woman.

還hái最zuì低價dījià， 我wǒ上網shàngwǎng隨便suíbiàn找zhǎo都dōu比bǐ你們nǐmen便宜piányí还hái最zuì低价dījià， 我wǒ上网shàngwǎng随便suíbiàn找zhǎo都dōu比bǐ你们nǐmen便宜piányi
Offering the lowest price? But I easily found cheaper options online than yours.

還hái絕症juézhèng呢ne， 我wǒ這zhè不是búshì活huó得de好好的hǎohāode还hái绝症juézhèng呢ne， 我wǒ这zhè不是búshì活huó得de好好的hǎohāode
What a terminal illness, I’m living my life just fine.

還hái名醫míngyī， 我wǒ不bú就jiù肚子痛dùzitòng， 竟然jìngrán說shuō我wǒ是shì癌症áizhèng还hái名医míngyī， 我wǒ不bú就jiù肚子疼dùziténg， 竟然jìngrán说shuō我wǒ是shì癌症áizhèng
What a famous doctor, I only had a stomach ache, and he think I had cancer.

S + hái + zhēn + Adj

This structure denotes a sense of astonishment, rarity, or unexpectedness in the situation.

這zhè孩子háizi還hái真zhēn聰明cōngmíng这zhè孩子háizi还hái真zhēn聪明cōngming
This child is indeed very clever.
(Displaying an unexpected level of intelligence.)

這zhè狗gǒu還hái真zhēn傻shǎ， 主人zhǔrén都dōu搬走bānzǒu了le， 還hái在zài那nà等děng著zhe这zhè狗gǒu还hái真zhēn傻shǎ， 主人zhǔrén都dōu搬走bānzǒu了le， 还hái在zài那nà等děng着zhe
This dog is quite silly; his owner has moved out, yet he’s still waiting there.
(Demonstrating an unexpected loyalty.)

今天jīntiān還hái真zhēn冷lěng， 晚上wǎnshàng吃chī個ge火鍋huǒguō吧ba今天jīntiān还hái真zhēn冷lěng， 晚上wǎnshang吃chī个ge火锅huǒguō吧ba
It’s really cold today. How about having hot pot for dinner tonight?
(Considering the unexpected weather)

你nǐ這zhè道dào菜cài還hái真zhēn好吃hǎochī， 怎麼zěnme做zuò的de呀ya？ 你nǐ这zhè道dào菜cài还hái真zhēn好吃hǎochī， 怎么zěnme做zuò的de呀ya？
This dish you made is really delicious. How did you make it?
(Expressing unexpected culinary skill.)

看不出來kànbùchūlái， 你nǐ中文zhōngwén還hái真zhēn溜liù， 學xué多久duōjiǔ了le？ 看不出来kànbuchūlái， 你nǐ中文zhōngwén还hái真zhēn溜liù， 学xué多久duōjiǔ了le？
I couldn’t tell. Your Chinese is really fluent. How long have you been learning?
(Showcasing an unexpected proficiency.)

Hái + Verb Phrase + ma ?

This structure changes a statement into a rhetorical question.

他tā情人節qíngrénjié收shōu那麼nàme多duō巧克力qiǎokēlì了le， 還hái差chā你nǐ一個人yígerén嗎ma？ 他tā情人节qíngrénjié收shōu那么nàme多duō巧克力qiǎokèlì了le， 还hái差chà你nǐ一个人yígerén吗ma？
He received so much chocolate on Valentine’s Day, and he’s still missing just you, isn’t he?

FYI
In Taiwan, Western Valentine’s Day isn’t exclusively for couples. In fact, many single people also buy chocolates for friends, classmates, or colleagues they want to thank. Some bosses even prepare lots of small chocolates for all their female employees on this day. So, if you receive chocolates from someone of the opposite sex, don’t read too much into it; it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re interested in you. It’s simply a way of sharing sweet happiness with others.

監視器jiānshìqì都dōu錄lù到dào了le， 還hái不bù承認chéngrèn嗎ma？ 监视器jiānshìqì都dōu录lù到dào了le， 还hái不bù承认chéngrèn吗ma？
The surveillance cameras captured everything, yet you still won’t admit it, will you?

外面wàimiàn雨yǔ超chāo大dà， 那nà戶外hùwài電影會diànyǐnghuì還hái去qù嗎ma？ 外面wàimiàn雨yǔ超chāo大dà， 那nà户外hùwài电影会diànyǐnghuì还hái去qù吗ma？
It’s pouring rain outside, but are you still planning to go to the outdoor movie event?

我wǒ條件tiáojiàn這麼zhème好hǎo， 還hái怕pà找不到zhǎobúdào男友nányǒu嗎ma？ 我wǒ条件tiáojiàn这么zhème好hǎo， 还hái怕pà找不到zhǎobudào男友nányǒu吗ma？
I am an eligible bachelorette, do I need to worry about not being able to find a boyfriend?

他tā這麼zhème優秀yōuxiù， 還hái需要xūyào我wǒ幫忙bāngmáng嗎ma？ 他tā这么zhème优秀yōuxiù， 还hái需要xūyào我wǒ帮忙bāngmáng吗ma？
He’s so outstanding, does he still need my help?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

What a big meal, this is completely not filling at all.

還hái大餐dàcān， 這zhè根本gēnběn就jiù完全wánquán吃不飽chībùbǎo还hái大餐dàcān， 这zhè根本gēnběn就jiù完全wánquán吃不饱chībubǎo

Being an internet celebrity is really not easy. I used to think it was just taking pretty pictures.

當dāng網紅wǎnghóng還hái真zhēn不簡單bùjiǎndān， 我wǒ還hái以為yǐwéi就是jiùshì漂漂亮亮piàopiàoliàngliàng照zhào個ge相xiāng而已éryǐ当dāng网红wǎnghóng还hái真zhēn不简单bùjiǎndān， 我wǒ还hái以为yǐwéi就是jiùshì漂漂亮亮piàopiàoliangliang照zhào个ge相xiāng而已éryǐ

Since you’ve already seen this, why not help me by clicking an advertisement?

你nǐ都dōu看kàn到dào這zhè了le， 還hái不幫bùbāng我wǒ點diǎn一個yíge廣告guǎnggào嗎ma？ 你nǐ都dōu看kàn到dào这zhè了le， 还hái不帮bùbāng我wǒ点diǎn一个yíge广告guǎnggào吗ma？