仍然

• Pinyin: réng rán
• Hanzi breakdown: 仍 = 亻(person) + 乃 (phonetic), to continue; 然 = 月 (flesh) + 犬 (dog) + 灬 (fire), originally meaning to burn, later used as a grammatical suffix meaning so/thus

Meaning

Still; yet; as before. Indicates that a situation continues unchanged despite expectations or circumstances.

The standard word for still in both spoken and written Chinese. More natural in conversation than 仍 alone. Often used with 虽然...但是 (although...but) to express contrast — something persists despite an opposing condition. Interchangeable with 还是 in many contexts but slightly more emphatic and formal.

Examples

1. 虽然很累，他仍然坚持每天跑步。 Although he's very tired, he still insists on running every day.
2. 天气预报说会晴天，但仍然在下雨。 The forecast said it would be sunny, but it's still raining.
3. 她搬家以后仍然住在这个城市。 She still lives in this city after moving house.

Usage Guide

Context: contrast, persistence, everyday speech, writing

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这么多年过去了，他仍然记得我。(After so many years, he still remembers me.)
• 吃了药以后，我仍然觉得不舒服。(After taking medicine, I still don't feel well.)

Don't Say

• 明天仍然星期三。(Don't use 仍然 for unchanging facts like days of the week — it implies persistence against expectations. Say 明天是星期三.)

Origin & History

仍 means still or to continue; 然 means so or like that (a suffix that makes the adverb more complete). Together they reinforce the meaning of continuing unchanged.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal