還 meaning and stroke order
Also, besides; still, yet; to return
How to write 還, stroke by stroke
16 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
Meaning of 還
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- still
- still in progress
- still more
- yet
- even more
- in addition
- to pay back
- to return
How 還 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 還
還 is built from 辶 (walking, movement) and 睘. Picture someone walking back along a road to return something, which links to the meaning huán (to return), and they are still on the way, which links to hái (still).
As hái it is a very common adverb meaning still, yet, or in addition, and it often appears in 还有 (hái yǒu) and 还是 (háishi). As huán it means to give back or repay, as in 归还 (guīhuán) and 还款 (huán kuǎn). Example: 我还没吃饭。(Wǒ hái méi chī fàn.) I still haven't eaten.
Common mistake: Learners often read every 还 as hái, but in words about giving back, such as 还书 (huán shū, to return a book) and 偿还 (chánghuán), it is huán. Also keep 還 apart from 環 (huán, ring), which shares 睘 but has 王 on the left instead of 辶.
Common words with 還
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 還有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition | HSK 1 |
| 還是 | háishi | still (as before); had better | HSK 1 |
| 償還 | chánghuán | to repay; to reimburse | HSK 7-9 |
| 歸還 | guīhuán | to return sth; to revert | HSK 7-9 |
| 討價還價 | tǎojià-huánjià | to haggle over price; to bargain | HSK 7-9 |
| 還原 | huányuán | to restore to the original state; to reconstruct (an event) | HSK 7-9 |
| 返還 | fǎnhuán | restitution; return of something to its original owner | HSK 7-9 |
| 還款 | huán kuǎn | repayment; to pay back money | HSK 7-9 |
| 還好 | háihǎo | not bad; pretty good; fortunately; luckily | |
| 還給 | huángěi | to return sth to sb | |
| 還清 | huánqīng | to pay back in full; to redeem a debt | |
| 生還者 | shēnghuánzhě | survivor | |
| 還擊 | huánjī | to hit back; to return fire | |
| 還債 | huánzhài | to settle a debt |
Questions about 還
How many strokes are in 還?
還 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 還 mean?
還 (hái) means also, besides; still, yet; to return. A common word with it is 还有 (hái yǒu), meaning "there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition".
How do you pronounce 還?
還 is pronounced hái, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 還?
The radical of 還 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 還 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 還?
還 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 还, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do I know whether 还 is read hái or huán?
If it works as an adverb before a verb or adjective, meaning still, also, or even more, it is hái. If it is the main verb meaning to give back or repay, it is huán. Compare 他还在 (tā hái zài, he is still here) with 还钱 (huán qián, to pay money back).
What is the difference between 还是 (háishi) and 或者 (huòzhě) for or?
Use 还是 in questions that offer a choice, such as 你喝茶还是咖啡? (Nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi?) Do you drink tea or coffee? Use 或者 in statements, such as 茶或者咖啡都可以 (chá huòzhě kāfēi dōu kěyǐ), tea or coffee is fine. 还是 can also mean had better, as in 你还是走吧 (you had better go).