仍然
The word 仍然 means that something is still happening or is the same as it was before.
Explanation at your level:
You use 仍然 to say something is still happening. For example, if it is raining now and it was raining before, you say it 仍然 rains. It is a very useful word for beginners to describe the world around them.
At this level, you can use 仍然 to describe simple habits. You might say, 'I 仍然 like ice cream' or 'He 仍然 lives here.' It helps you connect your sentences and talk about things that do not change over time.
As you move to intermediate levels, you will use 仍然 to describe more complex situations. It is great for explaining that despite a problem, a plan is 仍然 valid or a person is 仍然 working hard. It adds clarity to your storytelling.
In upper-intermediate Chinese, 仍然 helps you distinguish between 'still' in a neutral sense and 'still' in a more formal, emphatic sense. Use it when you want to sound professional in business meetings or formal writing.
At the advanced level, you will notice 仍然 used in literary contexts to describe the persistence of emotions or abstract concepts. It provides a sense of gravity and continuity that elevates your writing style significantly.
Mastery of 仍然 involves understanding its subtle stylistic differences from synonyms like 依然 or 还. You will use it to craft elegant sentences where the persistence of a state is the key focus of your argument or narrative.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means 'still' or 'as before'.
- Used before verbs or adjectives.
- More formal than '还'.
- Indicates continuity of a state.
When you use 仍然, you are telling the listener that something hasn't changed. It is the perfect word to describe a situation that keeps going, even if you expected it to stop or change.
Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of the English word still. Whether you are talking about the weather, a person's behavior, or a project at work, this word helps you bridge the gap between the past and the present.
The word 仍然 is composed of two characters that both imply repetition or continuation. 仍 (réng) carries the meaning of 'still' or 'yet,' while 然 (rán) acts as a suffix that modifies the state of being.
Historically, this combination evolved from classical Chinese where these characters were used to describe the consistency of nature or human character. Over centuries, it became the standard way to express 'as before' in both literary and spoken contexts.
You will find 仍然 used frequently before verbs or adjectives. It is slightly more formal than the common word 还 (hái), making it a great choice for emails, essays, or professional presentations.
It pairs beautifully with verbs like 坚持 (persist) or 存在 (exist). Using it shows that you have a good grasp of nuance, as it sounds more sophisticated than using simpler alternatives.
While 仍然 is a standard adverb, it appears in many set phrases. 1. 仍然如此 (remains so). 2. 仍然有效 (still valid). 3. 仍然坚持 (still insisting). 4. 仍然在乎 (still care). 5. 仍然继续 (still continuing). These phrases help you express complex ideas with just a few words.
In terms of grammar, 仍然 is an adverb that usually sits before the verb. It does not change based on the subject, making it very easy to use.
The pronunciation is 'réng rán'. The first character has a rising tone, and the second is also a rising tone. Practice saying them together to get that smooth, flowing rhythm that makes your Chinese sound natural.
Fun Fact
The character 仍 originally meant 'to repeat'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'rung ran' with rising tones.
Similar to UK, focus on the nasal 'ng'.
Common Errors
- Missing the rising tone
- Mispronouncing the 'r' sound
- Swallowing the 'ng' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to listen
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adverb Placement
Adverbs go before verbs.
State Continuity
Using 仍然 for states.
Formal vs Casual
Choosing the right register.
Examples by Level
他仍然在睡觉。
He still is sleeping.
Adverb before verb.
雨仍然在下。
The rain is still falling.
Subject + adverb + verb.
我仍然爱你。
I still love you.
Simple sentence structure.
商店仍然开着。
The store is still open.
Adverb with state.
他仍然很忙。
He is still very busy.
Adverb with adjective.
我们仍然是朋友。
We are still friends.
Adverb with 'to be' verb.
路仍然很长。
The road is still very long.
Descriptive sentence.
他仍然在看书。
He is still reading.
Continuous action.
天色仍然很暗。
他仍然没有回来。
问题仍然存在。
我仍然记得那件事。
价格仍然很高。
他仍然坚持学习。
会议仍然在进行。
我们仍然需要帮助。
尽管下雨，比赛仍然继续。
这个计划仍然有效。
他仍然对艺术感兴趣。
尽管很累，他仍然在工作。
这个传统仍然被保留。
她仍然保持着联系。
情况仍然不明朗。
他仍然是公司的领导。
尽管面临困难，他仍然保持乐观。
这个结论仍然值得商榷。
虽然时代变了，但精神仍然存在。
他仍然固执己见。
这个建议仍然具有参考价值。
虽然证据不足，他仍然被怀疑。
该项目仍然处于起步阶段。
我们仍然面临严峻挑战。
尽管外界压力巨大，他仍然坚守原则。
这一现象仍然引发广泛讨论。
虽然已过多年，那段记忆仍然清晰。
这种观点仍然占据主导地位。
尽管科技进步，某些问题仍然未解。
他仍然以谦逊的态度待人。
这一法律条款仍然具有约束力。
尽管资源有限，我们仍然完成了任务。
即便在极端的环境下，生命仍然展现出顽强。
他的创作风格仍然保持着古典韵味。
这一历史遗迹仍然诉说着往事。
尽管社会变迁，家庭观念仍然根深蒂固。
他的学术贡献仍然影响着后人。
尽管经过多次修订，核心思想仍然不变。
这一理论仍然是该领域的基石。
尽管困难重重，他仍然矢志不渝。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"一如既往"
Always the same as before.
他一如既往地准时。
formal"依然故我"
Still acting the same way as before.
他依然故我，不听劝告。
literary"仍未可知"
Still unknown.
结果仍未可知。
formal"仍需努力"
Still need to work hard.
我们仍需努力。
neutral"仍有余地"
Still has room for improvement.
这事仍有余地。
neutral"仍旧如此"
Still like this.
情况仍旧如此。
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean still.
还 is casual, 仍然 is formal.
我还在这里 vs 我仍然在这里.
Both mean still.
依然 emphasizes the state of being.
依然美丽 vs 仍然美丽.
Both mean still.
仍旧 is slightly more colloquial.
仍旧没来 vs 仍然没来.
Both relate to old states.
照旧 means following the old way.
一切照旧.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 仍然 + Verb
他仍然在工作。
Subject + 仍然 + Adjective
天气仍然很冷。
Despite X, Subject + 仍然 + Verb
尽管很累，他仍然在跑。
Subject + 仍然 + Negative Verb
他仍然没有回来。
Subject + 仍然 + Adverbial Phrase
他仍然在努力地学习。
Word Family
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It describes existing states.
Adverbs of time/manner go before.
Always implies frequency, 仍然 implies state.
仍然 sounds formal.
It changes the meaning.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a statue that remains still.
Native Usage
Use it when writing formal emails.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the value of consistency.
Grammar Shortcut
Always before the verb.
Say It Right
Focus on the rising tones.
Avoid Errors
Don't put it at the end.
Did You Know?
It has ancient roots.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily journal.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Still' as 'Still-ing' (仍然).
Visual Association
A clock that doesn't move.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: To remain as it was.
Cultural Context
None, very neutral word.
Directly maps to the English 'still'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 项目仍然在进行
- 他仍然是经理
- 问题仍然存在
At school
- 他仍然在学习
- 答案仍然未知
- 任务仍然很多
In daily life
- 雨仍然在下
- 我仍然爱你
- 商店仍然开着
In news/media
- 局势仍然紧张
- 调查仍然在继续
- 他仍然保持沉默
Conversation Starters
"你仍然在学习中文吗？"
"你仍然住在原来的地方吗？"
"你仍然记得你的小学老师吗？"
"你仍然喜欢吃那家餐厅吗？"
"你仍然对那个梦想感兴趣吗？"
Journal Prompts
Describe something that has remained the same in your life.
Write about a habit you still have.
Explain why you still study Chinese.
Reflect on a goal you are still pursuing.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsThey are similar, but 仍然 is more formal.
No, it must come before the verb or adjective.
Yes, but it sounds slightly more educated.
No, it is an adverb.
Yes, to describe a past state that continued.
It can be used in negative sentences (e.g., 仍然没有).
réng rán.
Extremely common.
Test Yourself
他 ___ 在看书。
仍然 fits the context of continuous action.
Which word means 'still'?
仍然 is the correct translation.
仍然 can be used to describe a future event that hasn't started.
It describes existing states.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms.
Subject + Adverb + Adjective.
Score: /5
Summary
仍然 is your go-to word for expressing that something remains the same, especially in formal or written Chinese.
- Means 'still' or 'as before'.
- Used before verbs or adjectives.
- More formal than '还'.
- Indicates continuity of a state.
Memory Palace
Imagine a statue that remains still.
Native Usage
Use it when writing formal emails.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the value of consistency.
Grammar Shortcut
Always before the verb.
Example
雨仍然在下。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More emotions words
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
佩服
B1To admire; to respect.
