还 vs 再 (hái vs zài): still vs again
还 (hái) indicates that a state or action continues to the present, often meaning 'still' or 'yet'. 再 (zài) indicates a future repetition or continuation of an action, meaning 'again' or 'another (time)'. The key distinction is time reference: 还 looks backward at ongoing situations, while 再 looks forward to a repeated event.
还 and 再 are both adverbs that relate to continuation or repetition, but they operate in different time frames and contexts. 还 is used for an ongoing state or action that persists up to the present (still, yet), and can also mean 'also' or 'additional' (e.g., 还有). 再 is used for an action that will be repeated or continued in the future, often in commands, plans, or invitations (again, another time). A common trick: if you can replace the word with 'still' in English, use 还; if you want 'again' referring to a future event, use 再.
When to use each
Use 还 when something is continuing from before into the present, such as 'still doing something' or 'not yet finished'. It is also used to mean 'also' or 'in addition' (e.g., 还要 'still want' ≈ 'also want'). In negative sentences (还 + 没/不), it conveys that an expected change has not occurred yet, like 'still not'.
还 can also appear in comparative constructions meaning 'even' (e.g., 比…还…), but that is a separate usage from the 'still/also' sense.
Use 再 when an action happens another time in the future, or when you want to add more of an action (e.g., 再吃一点 'eat a bit more'). It is common in polite requests (请再…) and future plans (明天再去). It implies that the action has not occurred yet—it is a repetition yet to come.
再 cannot be used for past repetitions; for that, use 又 (yòu). It also appears in phrases like 再见 (zàijiàn, 'goodbye', literally 'see again').
At a glance
| 还 | 再 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Continuation/ongoing state | Future repetition |
| Time reference | Present/up to now (often with 没 for 'not yet') | Future/imperative (action not yet happened) |
| Negative form | 还没 (still not / not yet) | 不再 (no longer / not again) – rarely 再不 |
| Common translation | still, yet, also | again, another, more (of an action) |
| Can it mean 'more'? | Yes, as in 还要 (still want) = 'want more' (continuing want) | Yes, as in 再来一碗 (bring another bowl) – future additional action |
Examples
- 还他还在吃饭。Tā hái zài chīfàn.He is still eating.还 marks the ongoing action (still in progress).
- 还我还没看完这本书。Wǒ hái méi kàn wán zhè běn shū.I haven't finished this book yet.还 + 没 = 'not yet' (still not).
- 再请再说一遍。Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.Please say it again.再 with imperative: a future repetition.
- 再我们明天再见面吧。Wǒmen míngtiān zài jiànmiàn ba.Let's meet again tomorrow.再 used for a future plan (meet another time).
- 还你还要咖啡吗？Nǐ hái yào kāfēi ma?Do you still want coffee? (or: Do you want more coffee?)还 here can mean 'still' (continuing desire) or 'also' (additional). Context clarifies.
- 再再吃一个吧。Zài chī yī ge ba.Have another one (eat one more).再 with verb + quantity indicates an additional action in future.
Common mistakes
- Using 再 for 'still' in ongoing actions: ✗ 我再看书 (meaning 'I read again' not 'I am still reading') → use 还: 我还在看书。
- Using 还 in commands for 'again': ✗ 请还说一遍 → use 再: 请再说一遍。
- Using 再 for past repetition: ✗ 昨天我再看了那部电影 → use 又: 昨天我又看了那部电影。
- Confusing 还 and 再 when both mean 'more': 还要 = 'still want' (continuing desire), 再要 = 'want another' (future addition). In many contexts they are interchangeable but with a nuance difference: 还 more about continuation, 再 about repetition.
FAQ
- When do I use 还 vs 再 for expressing 'more'?
- Use 还 when you want to say 'still want more' as a continuation of desire (还要). Use 再 when you want to perform an action one more time in the future (再吃). For objects, 还来一个 means 'still coming one' (maybe in a list), while 再来一个 means 'bring another one' (future).
- Can 还 ever mean 'again'?
- In some fixed expressions or with certain verbs, 还 can imply a repeated action, but usually it doesn't mean 'again' in the same way as 再. For example, 他还来 can mean 'he still comes' (ongoing) or 'he also comes' (additional), but not 'he comes again' (for which you'd use 再来).
- How do I use 还 and 再 in negative sentences?
- For 还, the negative is 还没 (hái méi) meaning 'not yet' for verbs of change, or 还不 (hái bù) for 'still not' for stative verbs. For 再, the negative is usually 不再 (bù zài) meaning 'no longer' or 'not again', e.g., 我不再去了 'I won't go again'.