还 (hái) - Still/Also/In Addition

In English, "still" and "also" move around a lot. In Chinese, 还 is very disciplined. It almost always sits right before the verb. Sometimes it sits before an adjective. It never goes at the end of a sentence. It never goes before the subject. You can think of it like a sticky note. It sticks directly to the action it describes. If you want to say "still eating," you put 还 before "eating." If you want to say "also want," you put 还 before "want." It is very logical once you see the pattern. Even native speakers rely on this simple placement to be clear.

1. 1Using 还 follows a very strict order. Follow these steps to build your sentence:
2. 2Start with your Subject (the person or thing).
3. 3Add the word 还 (hái).
4. 4Add your Verb or Adjective.
5. 5Finish with the Object (if there is one).
6. 6The basic formula looks like this: [Subject] + 还 + [Verb/Adjective] + [Object].
7. 7For example: 我 (I) + 还 (still) + 在 (am at) + 家 (home).
8. 8Another example: 他 (He) + 还 (also) + 要 (wants) + 咖啡 (coffee).
9. 9It is like building with Lego blocks. Just snap 还 in before the action block.

You should use 还 in three main real-world scenarios.

Scenario 1: The "Still" Situation. Use this when an action is continuing. Imagine you are at a party. Your friend asks if you are leaving. You say, "I am still dancing!" In Chinese, that is 我还跳舞. It shows the action hasn't ended yet.

Scenario 2: The "Ordering Food" Situation. This is the "in addition" meaning. You order a bowl of noodles. Then you realize you are starving. You tell the waiter, "I also want dumplings." You use 还 here: 我还要饺子. It adds a new item to your list.

Scenario 3: The "Not Yet" Situation. This is for things that haven't happened but will. Usually, you pair 还 with 没 (méi). For example, "I haven't eaten yet" is 我还没吃. It implies that you will eat soon. It is like a grammar traffic light turning from red to green.

Do not use 还 to connect two nouns directly. This is a classic trap. In English, we say "I like apples and also bananas." In Chinese, you cannot say 我喜欢苹果还香蕉. That sounds very broken. To link nouns, use 和 (hé).

Also, do not use 还 when you are repeating an action that already finished. If you drank a coffee yesterday and drank one again today, use 又 (yòu) or 再 (zài). 还 is for things happening right now or adding to a current list. Think of 还 as a "current" word, not a "repeat" word.

One big mistake is putting 还 at the end of the sentence. English speakers love to say "I want that also." They try to say 我要那个还. This is wrong. Your Chinese friends will be confused. Always move 还 before the verb: 我还要那个.

Another mistake is confusing 还 with 也 (yě). Both can mean "also." However, 也 is used when two different people do the same thing. 还 is used when one person does multiple things. If your friend drinks tea and you drink tea, use 也. If you drink tea and then decide to drink water too, use 还. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired, but you can be better!

Let's compare 还 (hái), 也 (yě), and 再 (zài).

• 也 (yě) = "Too." It links different subjects to the same action. "He is a student, I am also (也) a student."
• 还 (hái) = "In addition." It links the same subject to different actions. "I study Chinese, I also (还) study Japanese."
• 再 (zài) = "Again." It is for future repetition. "See you again (再见)."

Think of 也 as a mirror (reflecting someone else). Think of 还 as a shopping cart (adding more things). Think of 再 as a rewind button (doing it over).