How to use 还…呢
Subj. + 还 + Predicate + 呢
还 can present a situation as surprising or at odds with what the speaker expects. In these uses, it may emphasize a remarkable fact rather than simply mean still or also. 呢 often adds force at the end. The tone can be approving surprise, disbelief, or criticism, depending on the surrounding statement and delivery.
A description that clashes with the evidence can become ironic, especially when 还 introduces a claimed role or quality and the next clause undermines it. Rhetorical questions can use 还 to challenge why something remains necessary or possible under the circumstances. Read the whole exchange before assigning a sarcastic meaning; neither 还 nor 呢 alone guarantees that attitude.
Examples with pinyin and English
这个小孩还真聪明！
This kid is brilliant!
还留过学呢，英语这么差！
He's even studied abroad, yet his English is so terrible!
都怪你，你还生气呢。
It's all your fault, yet you're the one who's mad.
还好朋友呢，天天说我坏话。
What a "good friend"! Talking trash about me every day.
What to remember
- Context distinguishes surprise from ordinary continuation.
- 呢 often reinforces the speaker’s stance.
- Irony depends on a mismatch with the evidence.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.