5 Ways to Say “Still” in Chinese

Introduction:
還还 hái, 仍然 réngrán, 依然 yīrán, 仍舊旧 réngjiù and 依舊旧 yījiù share a similar meaning of “still,” but there are some differences in their usages and connotations.

還还 hái (HSK 2)

Still, also, or yet. It implies that something continues, but in a more casual or neutral way. Commonly used in spoken language and can be used to express continuation or contrast.

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?

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?

仍然 réngrán (HSK 3)

Slightly formal, used in both spoken and written language. It emphasizes persistence or something remaining the same over time.

我wǒ仍然réngrán愛ài著zhe他tā我wǒ仍然réngrán爱ài着zhe他tā
I still love him.

我wǒ已經yǐjīng喝hē了le咖啡kāfēi但是dànshì仍然réngrán很hěn睏kùn我wǒ已经yǐjīng喝hē了le咖啡kāfēi但是dànshì仍然réngrán很hěn困kùn
I’ve already had coffee, but I’m still very sleepy.

他的tāde中文zhōngwén仍然réngrán停留tíngliú在zàiHSK3 的de程度chéngdù他的tāde中文zhōngwén仍然réngrán停留tíngliú在zàiHSK3 的de程度chéngdù
His Chinese proficiency is still at the level of HSK3.

仍舊旧 réngjiù (HSK 5)

Used in both written and spoken language, though it tends to be a bit more formal than 仍然 réngrán. It’s also used to emphasize that something continues despite expectations.

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?

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.

依舊旧 yījiù (HSK 5)

More literary or poetic, often found in formal writing or more emotional contexts.

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.

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.

依然 yīgrán (HSK 5)

It has a similar meaning to 依舊旧 yījiù, but less poetic. This one is more commonly used in spoken language.

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.

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.

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.

Comparison