How to use 还
Subj. + 还 + Verb Phrase / Adj.
还 can show that an action or state continues despite time passing or an expectation of change. Before an ongoing action, it often combines with 在. Before a state or other predicate, it may appear without that progressive marker. The speaker treats the situation as continuing from an earlier relevant point.
还是 can similarly present a situation as unchanged or an action as occurring despite another circumstance. Do not confuse that reading with 还是 introducing alternatives in a choice question. With negative predicates, 还 can mean “still not” or “not yet,” depending on whether 不 or 没 fits the meaning. Time expressions and context help reveal what change the speaker expected and whether the continuation is surprising.
Examples with pinyin and English
这件事情我还在考虑。
I am still thinking over this matter.
已经中午了，他还在睡？
It's already noon and he's still sleeping?
她还在生气吗？
Is she still mad?
你怎么还在用那个旧手机？
How come you're still using that old cell phone?
我让他不要买，他还是买了。
I told him not to buy it, but he still bought it.
What to remember
- Use 还 before the continuing predicate.
- 还在 commonly marks an ongoing activity.
- Read negatives as still not or not yet.
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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.
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