Ch 28 · Lesson 17Mandarin · Chapter 28 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
比…还 and 还有: even more, and also
: even taller, with a note of surprise. adds one more thing, and says it's all right.
The short version
Even taller:
。Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái lěng.
Why?Hide
In a (bǐ) comparison, (hái) before the adjective adds 'even': (tā bǐ wǒ hái gāo), he's even taller than me, and I'm tall. (gèng) says the same more plainly. (hái yǒu) is the everyday 'and also', and it can open a sentence: (hái yǒu yí jiàn shì).
还 (hái) in comparisons: even more
In a (bǐ) comparison, (hái) adds "even": the standard was already high.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Tā bǐ wǒ gāo. | He's taller than me |
。 | Tā bǐ wǒ gèng gāo. | He's even taller than me |
。 | Tā bǐ wǒ hái gāo. | He's even taller than me (and I'm tall!) |
。 | Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái lěng. | Today's even colder than yesterday |
(gèng) and (hái) are close here. (hái) tends to carry surprise; (gèng) is the plainer choice in writing.
还有 (hái yǒu): and also
(hái yǒu) adds one more item, and it can open a sentence:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
、，。 | Wǒ mǎi le chá, kāfēi, hái yǒu niúnǎi. | I bought tea, coffee and milk |
。 | Hái yǒu yí jiàn shì. | And one more thing |
(hé) joins nouns but cannot open a sentence; (hái yǒu) can.
(hái) also softens an opinion: (hái xíng) and (hái kěyǐ) both mean "it's all right", and nobody is committing to enthusiasm.
- 很好hěn hǎo: very good
- 不错búcuò: pretty good
- 还可以 / 还行hái kěyǐ, hái xíng: it’s all right
Going further: The whole system on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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