#adverb #还 # 还 as "also; additionally" The adverb 还hái has a variety of meanings. One of the basic usages is to indicated "in addition to", "beside", or "on top of that": > **(1)** 我有三个姐姐,四个妹妹, 还有一个哥哥。 > wǒ yǒu sānge jiějie, sìge mèime, hái yǒu yige gēge > I have three elder sisters, one younger sister, in addition to one older brother. ## 还 vs 也 还 feels similar to 也yě, which means "also". We can even rephrase the previous sentence using 也: > **(2)** 我有三个姐姐, 四个妹妹, 也有一个哥哥。 > wǒ yǒu sānge jiějie, sìge mèimei, yě yǒu yige gēge. However, there are a few differences between the two in usage. ### Element of Surprise 也 marks a parallel situation of a relationship between two events or action - hence, it is translated as "also" or "too". 还, however, indicates an element of surprise - which is why it is translated more as "on top of", "in addition to", etc. Therefore, **(2)** is simply a counting of the siblings one has - whilst **(1)** places emphasis on the large number of siblings one has: > Not only do I have seven sisters, I also have one brother. Here is another pair of examples: > **(3)** 王老师教语法,也叫汉字。 > Wáng lǎoshī jiāo yǔfǎ, yě jiāo Hànzi > Teacher Wang teaches grammar, and also Chinese characters. > > **(4)** 王老师教语法,还叫汉字。 > Wáng lǎoshī jiāo yǔfǎ, hái jiāo Hànzi > Teacher Wang teaches grammar. On top of that, he also teaches Chinese characters. Again **(3)** is a more simple and plain way of putting the sentence. **(4)** is a much more emphatic description of the same: Not only does Mr. Wang teach grammar (which is already hard), he also teaches Chinese characters! Thus we can see 也 has a much more factual tone, as opposed to 还's extra emphasis or indication of surprise. Here is an example of using both 也 and 还 in the same sentence: > **(5)** > 》**A:** 我现在去新图书馆借书。那儿有英语书,也有法语书,还有中文报。你去不去? > wǒ xiànzài qù xīn túshūguǎn jiè shū. nàr yǒu yīngyú shū, yě yǒu fǎyú shū, hái yǒu Zhōngwén bào. nǐ qù bu qù? > I'm now going to the new bookshop to borrow books. There there are English books, and French books. In addition, they have Chinese newspapers. Are you going? > 》**B:** 我也去。我去那儿还地图。 > wǒ yě qù. wǒ qù nàr huán dìtú. > I'm also going. I'm going there to return a map. ### 还 can't mean "A does X, B also does X" To express the meaning: "**A** does **X**, **A** also does **Y**." You can use either 也 or 还. However, for the meaning: "**A** does **X**, **B** also does **X**" you can *only* use 也. Some examples: 1. 我教语法,(我)也教汉字。 wǒ jiāo yǔfǎ, (wǒ) yě jiāo Hànzi I teach grammar, and I also teach Chinese characters. 2. 我教语法, 你也教语法。 wǒ jiāo yǔfǎ, nǐ yě jiāo yǔfǎ I teach grammar, and you also teach grammar. 3. 我教语法,(我)还教汉字。 wǒ jiāo yǔfǎ, (wǒ) hái jiāo Hànzi I teach grammar, and on top of that, I also teach Chinese characters. 4. 我教语法,你还教语法。 (Incorrect) wǒ jiāo yǔfǎ, nǐ hái jiāo yǔfǎ I teach grammar, and on top of that, you also teach grammar. # 还 as "still" 还hái can also function as a temporal adverb, indicating that "the situation is *still* the case". The action or state represented by the verb began in the past, and continues into the present: 1. 我以前有三个妹妹,现在还有三个妹妹。 I used to have three younger sisters, I *still* have three (none died). 2. 我的孩子今年三岁,可是还不会走路。 My child is three this year, but he *still* can't walk. 3. A: 我们走吧。 B: 还早呢。 我还要在跟丁云谈谈。 A: Let's go. B: It's *still* early. I *still* need to talk to Ding Yun more.