还是 (hái shi) — (adverb) still, as before; (adverb) had better…

Definition

还是 has two distinct uses: as an adverb it means 'still' (similar to 仍然/依然, but more everyday) and as a soft 'had better' in suggestions (weaker than 最好). As a conjunction it links alternatives in questions, like 'or'.

adverb

stillas beforehad better (in suggestions)

conjunction

or (in alternative questions)

Examples

还是。
Tā hái shi shì lǎo shī.
He is still a teacher.
还是。
Wǒ men hái shi zài jiā ba.
We had better stay at home.
还是？
Nǐ xiǎng hē chá hái shi kā fēi?
Do you want to drink tea or coffee?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

还háistill

是shìbe

还 keeps still in view, and 是 points to what is the case; the pair can mean still or offer alternatives.

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.

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.

Open 还 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →