還

Definitions

還

1. to return to a place; to go back to a place

   還家 / 还家  ―  huánjiā  ―  to return home

   還鄉 / 还乡  ―  huánxiāng  ―  to return to one's hometown

   還原 / 还原  ―  huányuán  ―  to return to the original state, [chemistry] to reduce

   還俗 / 还俗  ―  huánsú  ―  to resume secular life

2. to return an object; to give back

   償還 / 偿还  ―  chánghuán  ―  to reimburse

   還書 / 还书  ―  huánshū  ―  to return the books (to the library)

   欠錢不還 / 欠钱不还  ―  qiàn qián bù huán  ―  to owe money (without the intention of paying back)

   把我的手機還給我。 [MSC, trad.]
   把我的手机还给我。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bǎ wǒ de shǒujī huán gěi wǒ. [Pinyin]

   Give my mobile back to me.

3. to do or give something in return

   還嘴 / 还嘴  ―  huánzuǐ  ―  to retort

   還手 / 还手  ―  huánshǒu  ―  to hit back

   還禮 / 还礼  ―  huánlǐ  ―  to present a gift in return

   還擊 / 还击  ―  huánjī  ―  to fight back

   還價 / 还价  ―  huánjià  ―  to make a counter-offer buying price

   以眼還眼，以牙還牙 [MSC, trad.]
   以眼还眼，以牙还牙 [MSC, simp.]

   yǐ yǎn huán yǎn, yǐ yá huán yá [Pinyin]

   [literally] an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; tit for tat

4. A surname​.

Compounds

Definitions

還

1. still; yet; indicates that the phenomenon or observation still exists or the action is still ongoing

   他還沒來。 / 他还没来。  ―  Tā hái méi lái.  ―  He hasn't come yet.

   你怎麼還沒到？ / 你怎么还没到？  ―  Nǐ zěnme hái méi dào?  ―  Why are you still not here?

   十點了，他還在工作。 [MSC, trad.]
   十点了，他还在工作。 [MSC, simp.]

   Shí diǎn le, tā hái zài gōngzuò. [Pinyin]

   It's ten o'clock already and he is still working.

   幾年不見，她還是那麼漂亮。 [MSC, trad.]
   几年不见，她还是那么漂亮。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jǐ nián bù jiàn, tā hái shì nàme piàoliàng. [Pinyin]

   She is still very beautiful after all these years.

2. even more; indicates an increase from a certain level or a supplement

   今年比去年還冷。 / 今年比去年还冷。  ―  Jīnnián bǐ qùnián hái lěng.  ―  This year is even colder than last year.

   考試完還要上課。 / 考试完还要上课。  ―  Kǎoshì wán hái yào shàngkè.  ―  (I) still have classes after the exams.

   他賠了一大筆錢，還丟了工作。 [MSC, trad.]
   他赔了一大笔钱，还丢了工作。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā péi le yī dà bǐ qián, hái diū le gōngzuò. [Pinyin]

   He lost a lot of money and even his job.

3. (before adjectives, mostly positive) passably; (surprisingly) quite

   我的成績還可以。 / 我的成绩还可以。  ―  Wǒ de chéngjī hái kěyǐ.  ―  I have a passable grade.

   屋子不大，收拾得倒還乾淨。 [MSC, trad.]
   屋子不大，收拾得倒还干净。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wūzi bù dà, shōushi dé dǎo hái qiánjìng. [Pinyin]

   It's quite clean for such a small room.

   孩子不大，還挺懂事的。 [MSC, trad.]
   孩子不大，还挺懂事的。 [MSC, simp.]

   Háizi bù dà, hái tǐng dǒngshì de. [Pinyin]

   The small kid is surprisingly quite sensible.

   這蛋糕還挺好吃的。 [MSC, trad.]
   这蛋糕还挺好吃的。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè dàngāo hái tǐng hǎochī de. [Pinyin]

   That was a pretty tasty cake.

4. (often in rhetorical questions) indicates condition and contrast, interchangeable with 都; even

   你還搬不動，何況我呢？ [MSC, trad.]
   你还搬不动，何况我呢？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ hái bān bù dòng, hékuàng wǒ ne? [Pinyin]

   Even you can't move it, let alone me.

5. indicates unexpectedness; really

   他還真有辦法。 / 他还真有办法。  ―  Tā hái zhēn yǒu bànfǎ.  ―  Surprisingly he has a way to do this.

6. indicates past events; emphasising earliness

   還在幾年以前，我們就研究過這個方案。 [MSC, trad.]
   还在几年以前，我们就研究过这个方案。 [MSC, simp.]

   Hái zài jǐ nián yǐqián, wǒmen jiù yánjiū guò zhège fāng'àn. [Pinyin]

   The proposal has been studied by us a couple of years ago (and now you made the suggestion to study it).

Compounds

Definitions

還

1. ^† Alternative form of 旋 (xuán, “to rotate; to turn around”).
2. ^† nimble; agile
3. ^† immediately

Readings

• Goon: げん (gen); ぜん (zen)
• Kan’on: かん (kan, Jōyō); せん (sen)
• Kan’yōon: かん (kan, Jōyō)
• Kun: かえる (kaeru, 還る); また (mata, 還); めぐる (meguru)