還 hái还 hái means “still” or, in negative sentences, “(not) yet.” It shows that a situation hasn’t changed: it’s still early, he’s still sleeping, I still haven’t found a job.
一還还 + Adjective
Subject + 還还 + Adjective
還 hái还 hái goes before the adjective to say a state continues. When there are several adverbs, 還 hái还 hái comes first, before 不 bù, 太 tài, or 沒 méi没 méi. The only exception is 也 yě, which goes before 還 hái还 hái.
時間时间還还早，你不要一直催
It’s still early. Stop rushing me.
現在现在外面外面還还太熱热，我們我们晚點点儿再出門出门吧
It’s still too hot outside. Let’s go out a bit later.
我的錢钱還还不夠够，你能借我嗎吗？
I still don’t have enough money. Can you lend me some?
你還还太小，不可以進进這这家店
You’re still too young to go into this store.
你的咖啡還还熱热嗎吗？要不要我幫帮你加熱加热？
Is your coffee still hot? Do you want me to heat it up for you?
二還还 + Verb
Subject + 還还 + (不 / 沒 / 在) + Verb
還 hái还 hái also goes before verbs. Combined with 在 zài, it means an action is still going on; with 沒 méi没 méi or 不 bù, it means something hasn’t happened yet.
他還还在睡覺睡觉
He’s still asleep.
他還还在練習练习鋼琴钢琴
He’s still practicing the piano.
我還还是單身单身
I’m still single.
我也還还沒没找到工作
I haven’t found a job yet either.
也 yě comes before 還 hái还 hái.
下午一點点了，你還还不吃飯吃饭嗎吗？
It’s already 1 p.m. Aren’t you going to eat yet?
你是不是還还沒没跟你女朋友女朋友說说「我愛爱你」？
You still haven’t said “I love you” to your girlfriend, have you?
FYI: 我愛你我爱你In Western culture, “I love you” carries a lot of weight. In Chinese-speaking cultures, it can feel a little different. Many people of older generations rarely say 我愛你 wǒ ài nǐ我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ, since they grew up expressing feelings in a more reserved way. Young couples, on the other hand, often say it early and casually, so it can feel closer to “I really like you.” If someone says 我愛你 wǒ ài nǐ我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ to you early on, don’t panic! 😉
三還沒还没 vs. 還不还不
Both mean “not yet,” but 還沒 hái méi还没 hái méi is about something that hasn’t happened so far, while 還不 hái bù还不 hái bù is about something you don’t want to do / won’t do yet, or a state that’s still not true.
還沒还没 · hasn’t happened yet
我還还沒没吃飯吃饭
I haven’t eaten yet.
還不还不 · not willing / not true yet
我還还不想吃飯吃饭
I don’t want to eat yet.
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 我不還还累
✅ 我還还不累
還 hái还 hái goes before the negative.
❌ 我還还也沒没找到工作
✅ 我也還还沒没找到工作
也 yě is the one adverb that comes before 還 hái还 hái.
❌ 他在還还睡覺睡觉
✅ 他還还在睡覺睡觉
還 hái还 hái comes before 在 zài.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I’m not tired yet.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我還还不累
還 hái还 hái before 不 bù.
“I don’t want to go to sleep yet.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我還还不想睡覺睡觉
Not willing yet → 還不 hái bù还不 hái bù.
“It’s still early.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
時間时间還还早
No 了 needed: nothing has changed.
“He’s still sleeping.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他還还在睡覺睡觉
還 hái还 hái + 在 zài = still in progress.
“I still haven’t finished my homework.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我還还沒没寫完写完功課作业
Hasn’t happened yet → 還沒 hái méi还没 hái méi.
“I’m still single, too.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我也還还是單身单身
也 yě comes before 還 hái还 hái.
“Is the soup still hot?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
湯汤還还熱热嗎吗？
還 hái还 hái + adjective.
“You’re still too young.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你還还太小
Adding 了 at the end is also fine in speech.
還 hái还 hái comes before 太 tài.
“It’s already two o’clock. Aren’t you going to eat yet?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
已經已经兩两點点了，你還还不吃飯吃饭嗎吗？
還不 hái bù还不 hái bù: you still haven’t chosen to eat.
