仍然 (réng rán) — still; as before; yet | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adverb meaning 'still, as before.' Written-form style is fine, but 还是 (HSK2) is the more common everyday choice; 依然 is a close synonym, slightly more literary.

adverb

stillas beforeyet

Examples

仍然。
Tā réng rán zài xué xí zhōng wén.
He is still studying Chinese.
，仍然。
Suī rán hěn lèi, tā réng rán jiān chí gōng zuò.
Although very tired, she still insists on working.
，仍然。
Shí nián guò qù le, zhè r réng rán gēn yǐ qián yí yàng.
Ten years have passed, and this place is still the same as before.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

仍 means still and 然 adds a sense of manner, so it says something continues in that way.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻乃仍

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

乃

乃nǎi仍réng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仍 pairs 亻, written as 人 (person), with 乃, which gives the character its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Grammar

Full explanation →

Appears in

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