5 Ways to Say “Still” in Chinese

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還 · 仍然 · 仍舊 · 依舊 · 依然 — 近義詞辨析
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5 Ways to Say “Still” in Chinese

English mostly relies on one word, “still” — Mandarin has five, each with a different register.

还 hái, 仍然 réngrán, 依然 yīrán, 仍旧 réngjiù and 依旧 yījiù share a similar meaning of “still,” but there are some differences in their usages and connotations.

一

还 hái

HSK 2 · Casual, Spoken

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还hái太tài小xiǎo，不可以bùkěyǐ进jìn这家zhè jiā店diàn。
You’re still too young, you can’t enter this store.
你的nǐde咖啡kāfēi还hái热rè吗ma？要不要yàobúyào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?
他tā还hái在zài睡觉shuìjiào，还hái没méi起床qǐchuáng。
He’s still sleeping, hasn’t gotten up yet.
二

仍然 réngrán

HSK 3 · Slightly Formal

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

我wǒ仍然réngrán爱ài着zhe他tā。
I still love him.
我wǒ已经yǐjīng喝了hē 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zàiHSK3HSK3的de程度chéngdù。
His Chinese proficiency is still at the level of HSK3.
即使jíshǐ分手fēnshǒu了le，他们tāmen仍然réngrán是shì好朋友hǎo péngyǒu。
Even though they broke up, they’re still good friends.
三

仍旧 réngjiù

HSK 5 · Formal, Despite Expectations

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.

十年shí nián了le，我的wǒde中文zhōngwén仍旧réngjiù不bù好hǎo。
It’s been ten years, and my Chinese is still not good.
他tā已经yǐjīng道歉dàoqiàn很多次hěnduō 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?
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.
搬到bāndào新家xīnjiā后hòu，他tā仍旧réngjiù每天měitiān早起zǎoqǐ运动yùndòng。
After moving to a new home, he still gets up early to exercise every day.
四

依旧 yījiù

HSK 5 · Literary, Poetic

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

她的tāde笑容xiàoróng依旧yījiù灿烂cànlàn，你的nǐde中文zhōngwén也yě依旧yījiù很hěn烂làn。
Her smile is still as radiant as ever, and your Chinese is still as bad as ever.
他tā依旧yījiù是shì那个nàge老样子lǎoyàngzi。
He’s still the same as before.
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.
多年duōnián过去guòqù了le，这座zhè zuò城市chéngshì依旧yījiù美丽měilì。
Years have passed, and this city is still beautiful.
五

依然 yīrán

HSK 5 · Neutral to Formal

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

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.
不管bùguǎn别人biérén怎么zěnme说shuō，她tā依然yīrán坚持jiānchí自己的zìjǐ de梦想mèngxiǎng。
No matter what others say, she still holds onto her dream.
06  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordMeaningUsageTone
还hái still, also, in addition common in spoken language, casual Casual, conversational
仍然réngrán still, as before, persistent both spoken/written Neutral, persistent
仍旧réngjiù still, unchanged, as before formal, both spoken/written Formal, factual
依旧yījiù still, as before, unchanged literary, poetic, emotional Formal, poetic
依然yīrán still, unchanged slightly more casual than 依旧 Neutral to formal
07  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
You’re still too young to drive a car.
你nǐ    太tài小xiǎo，不能bùnéng开车kāichē。
Even after all these years, I still remember his name.
过了guò le这么zhème多年duōnián，我wǒ    记得jìde他的tāde名字míngzi。
Despite the doctor’s warning, he still smokes every day. (formal)
尽管jǐnguǎn医生yīshēng警告jǐnggào过guò，他tā    每天měitiān抽烟chōuyān。
The old house is still standing, just as it was decades ago. (formal)
老lǎo房子fángzi    矗立chùlì在zài那里nàlǐ，一如yìrú数十年前shùshí nián qián。
No matter how busy she is, she still calls her mom every day.
不管bùguǎn多忙duōmáng，她tā    每天měitiān打电话dǎdiànhuà给gěi妈妈māma。
Is the soup still warm?
汤tāng    是shì温的wēnde吗ma。
After the argument, they are still not speaking to each other.
吵架chǎojià之后zhīhòu，他们tāmen    不bù说话shuōhuà。
Although the company changed owners, the rules still haven’t changed. (formal)
虽然suīrán公司gōngsī换huàn了le老板lǎobǎn，规定guīdìng    没有méiyǒu改变gǎibiàn。
Even after the renovation, the shop’s charm remains just as before. (formal)
即使jíshǐ装修zhuāngxiū过guò了le，这家zhè jiā店的diàn de魅力mèilì    如故rúgù。
Even though he apologized, I still can’t forgive him.
虽然suīrán他tā道歉dàoqiàn了le，我wǒ    无法wúfǎ原谅yuánliàng他tā。
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