还 (hái) — still, yet (indicating continuation or that something hasn't happened); also, in addition, another
Definition
还 (hái) has two main uses: 'still' for an ongoing state or something not yet done, and 'also / another' when adding more. As 'also' it differs from 再 (zài), which is about future repetition, not adding a new item.
adverb
stillyet (indicating continuation or that something hasn't happened)alsoin additionanother
Easily confused
Examples
- 还。Wǒ hái méi hē shuǐ.I haven't drunk water yet.
- 。Tā hái yào yì bēi shuǐ.He wants another glass of water.
- 还。Tā hái zài zhè lǐ.He is still here.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 還; 还 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
睘
睘qióng還hái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 還 pairs 辵 (walk) with 睘 as a sound part for 'go back; return'; the simplified 还 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.
Grammar
Appears in
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