还 · 还没……呢
still · not yet
Structure
主语 + 还 + 动词／形容词 · 主语 + 还没 + 动词 （+ 呢 ）
What it means
还 means “still”: nothing has changed. 还没 + verb (+ 呢) means “not yet”: it hasn’t happened, but probably will.
How it is built
Subject + 还 + verb: 他还在睡觉 (He’s still asleep). Subject + 还没 + verb (+ 呢): 我还没吃饭呢 (I haven’t eaten yet). Short answer: 还没呢.
When to use it
Learn the pair: 已经吃了 “already ate” ↔ 还没吃呢 “haven’t eaten yet”. Plain 没 + verb (h1-17) says what didn’t happen; 还没 adds that it may still happen.
Watch out
Don’t add 了 to 还没. ✗ 我还没吃了。 ✓ 我还没吃呢。
Examples
他还在睡觉。
He’s still asleep.
我还没吃饭呢。
I haven’t eaten yet.
“你洗澡了吗？”“还没呢。”
“Have you showered?” “Not yet.”
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 8: 我每天十点睡觉 (Daily rhythm)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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