还 Stroke Order — How to Write 还
还 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 辶, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
还 Radical and Character Components
还 is an ideographic compound. Not 不 moving 辶.
Radical: 辶 + 4 more strokes
还 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- huán
- hái
Meanings of 还 in Chinese
1
huán还
To return to one's original place or state, such as returning to one's hometown.
他终于可以还乡了。
He can finally return to his hometown.
To return (an action or blow), to repay, to retaliate, to strike back.
他没有选择逃避，而是勇敢地还击了对手。
He didn't choose to escape, but bravely struck back at his opponent.
To return, repay, or restore something (e.g., an item, a debt, or its original state).
他每月都会按时还贷款。
He repays the loan on time every month.
To encircle; to surround; similar to '环' (huán).
群山还绕着这座古老的寺庙。
The mountains encircle this ancient temple.
2
hái还
still; yet
他还在睡觉。
He is still sleeping.
still more; even more (indicating a higher degree or an additional extent)
明天会比今天还热。
Tomorrow will be even hotter than today.
still; in addition to; also; furthermore (used to indicate something in addition to what has already been mentioned)
学习知识，还要学会运用
When acquiring knowledge, one also needs to learn how to apply it.
still; fairly good; passable (referring to condition or quality)
他今天心情还好。
He's in a fairly good mood today.
still; yet; even; indicating that a situation persists or is true even under certain circumstances, often implying 'let alone' for other cases.
连他这么聪明的人,还犯这种错误,何况普通人呢?
Even someone as smart as him still makes this kind of mistake, let alone ordinary people?
Common Words and Phrases with 还
1
To repay the principal or capital of a loan.
他每月按时还本付息，保持良好的信用记录。
He repays the principal and interest on time every month, maintaining a good credit record.
2
Still short of a goal or required amount; not yet reaching the intended objective or standard.
距离比赛开始还差五分钟。
There are still five minutes left until the game starts.
3
Not bad; passable; also means fortunately or luckily.
你今天感觉怎么样？还好，没有之前那么累了。
How are you feeling today? Not bad, I'm not as tired as before.
4
to return from the dead; to revive after death; to come back to life
植物在春雨滋润下，枯萎的枝叶渐渐还魂，焕发出勃勃生机
Under the nourishment of spring rain, the withered branches and leaves of the plant gradually revived, bursting with vitality.
5
To fight back; to retaliate.
当被恶意攻击时，他选择用事实还击，而不是进行人身攻击。
When maliciously attacked, he chose to counterattack with facts rather than resorting to personal attacks.
6
to bargain; to haggle; to counter-offer
在跳蚤市场购物时，我喜欢和店主还价，希望能买到更便宜的东西。
When shopping at the flea market, I enjoy bargaining with the vendor, hoping to get a better price.
7
to retort; to talk back
妈妈批评小明，小明不服气地还口了。
Mom criticized Xiao Ming, and Xiao Ming retorted indignantly.
8
To return a salute or a gift in response.
她微笑着向观众挥手，观众也热情地还礼
She smiled and waved to the audience, and the audience enthusiastically returned the greeting.
9
To pay off (a debt); to repay completely.
我终于还清了银行贷款，感觉轻松多了。
I finally paid off the bank loan and feel much lighter.
10
still; nevertheless; or; had better
虽然外面下着大雨，我们还是决定去公园散步。
Although it's raining heavily outside, we still decided to go for a walk in the park.
11
to strike back; to hit back (after being attacked)
面对别人的欺凌，我们应该学会还手，而不是一味忍让。
When faced with bullying from others, we should learn to fight back rather than just endlessly tolerate it.
12
To return to secular life after having been a monk, nun, or priest.
经过深思熟虑，他最终选择还俗，过上普通人的生活
After much contemplation, he finally chose to return to secular life and live like an ordinary person.
13
to give a return banquet; to return a dinner invitation
既然李阿姨上次请我们吃了饭，这次轮到我们还席了，好好感谢她。
Since Aunt Li treated us to a meal last time, it's our turn to host a return dinner to thank her properly.
14
To restore something to its original state or form; in chemistry, to reduce.
你可以在修图软件中点击“还原”按钮，将图片恢复到编辑前的样子。
You can click the "restore" button in the photo editing software to revert the picture to its pre-edited state.
More words with 还
- fǎn返huán还to return; to give back
- fèng奉huán还return, give back
- péi赔huán还compensate, repay
- tǎo讨huán还Reclaim, Demand repayment
- tuì退huán还Refund, Return
- wǎng往huán还contact; intercourse; dealings
- zhuī追huán还To recover or reclaim.
- cháng偿huán还repay, pay back
- guī归huán还return
- bì璧huán还return a borrowed item, return something to its owner
- yǐ以huán还since then, since
- zhū珠huán还The lost is found
- hái还méi没Not yet, Still not
- hái还děi得still have to, also have to
- huán还qián钱Pay back, Repay
- hái还yào要also, still
- huán还kuǎn款repayment, payment
- huán还wèi未not yet, still not
- huán还xiāng乡Return home, Go home
- hái还suàn算fairly, rather
Idioms with 还
- huán还chún淳fǎn返pǔ朴return to innate purity and simplicity
- huán还wǒ我hé河shān山Reclaim our lost land and heritage
- fǎn反lǎo老huán还tóng童recover one's youthful vigor
- fǎn返běn本huán还yuán原revert to original state or true nature
- fǎn返běn本huán还yuán源return to one's true nature or origin
- fǎn返lǎo老huán还tóng童recover one's youth
- fǎn返pǔ朴huán还chún淳return to original simplicity and honesty
- fù父zhài债zǐ子huán还sons repay father's debts
- gào告lǎo老huán还jiā家retire to one's hometown in old age
- gào告lǎo老huán还xiāng乡retire to hometown due to old age
- jiè借shī尸huán还hún魂old thing revived in new form
- mǎi买dú椟huán还zhū珠value the superficial over the essential
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Open the tool →Questions about 还
What does 还 mean in Chinese?
还 (huán) means “To return (an action or blow)” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 还?
还 has 2 pronunciations: huán, hái.
How many strokes does 还 have?
还 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 还?
还 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 辶. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 还?
The radical of 还 is 辶, and 还 is an ideographic compound.
