How to Say Also in Chinese: Usage and Examples

Understanding how to express Also in Chinese is essential for building natural Mandarin sentences. This guide explains the difference between 也, 还, and 亦, shows how each word is used in real contexts, and provides simple examples and dialogues to help learners apply the structures correctly.

I. What Does “Also” Mean in Chinese?

In English, the word "also" functions primarily as an adverb to indicate that a previously mentioned action, state, or concept applies to another subject as well. In Mandarin Chinese, there is no single word-for-word equivalent to “also.” Instead, Mandarin uses a few different words depending on grammar structures, tone, and formality.

The most common Chinese equivalents for “also” include:

也 (yě)

“也” is the most direct and frequently used equivalent of “also.” It is typically used in spoken and written Mandarin to express similarity or shared traits between two subjects.

Example:

• 他是老师，我也是老师。
  (He is a teacher. I am also a teacher.)

还 (hái)

“还” can sometimes translate as “also,” but its primary meaning is “still” or "in addition." It's used to add information or describe ongoing actions. Unlike “也,” it implies a sense of continuation.

Example:

• 她会说英语，还会说法语。
  (She can speak English and also speak French.)

亦 (yì)

“亦” is a literary or classical word meaning “also,” and it is rarely used in daily conversation. You might encounter it in poetry, formal writing, or historical texts.

Example:

• 君亦知之。
  (You also know this.) — poetic or literary tone

Learners often assume that the English word “also” directly maps to a single Chinese word. However, Mandarin relies heavily on word order, tone, and context to convey meaning. Choosing between “也,” “还,” and “亦” depends on what kind of relationship or nuance the speaker wants to express.

Additional challenges include:

• Placing “也” in the wrong position in the sentence

• Using “还” when “也” is more suitable, or vice versa

• Confusing the logical flow when translating from English to Chinese

This is why mastering “also” in Chinese takes more than just vocabulary—it requires an understanding of grammar patterns and real-world usage.

II. How to Use Also in Chinese Grammar

To use “also” correctly in Mandarin, it’s important to understand the grammatical differences between its three primary equivalents: 也 (yě), 还 (hái), and 亦 (yì). While they all convey the idea of addition or similarity, their usage depends on tone, register, and sentence structure.

也 (yě): The Most Common Way to Say "Also"

也 is a high-frequency adverb commonly introduced in early Mandarin learning (HSK 1–2). It's used to express the idea of “also” or "too" and is typically placed right after the subject and before the verb.

Grammatical Pattern:

Subject + 也 + Verb/Adjective

Examples:

• 他是学生，我也是学生。
  (He is a student. I am also a student.)

• 她会唱歌，我也会。
  (She can sing. I can too.)

Usage Notes:

• Cannot be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.

• “也” applies to the subject, not the verb/action.

还 (hái): Also / Still / In Addition

还 is more versatile than “也,” and its primary meaning is "still." However, it can also mean “also” or “in addition,” depending on context.

Grammatical Pattern:

Subject + Verb 1 + Object 1， 还 + Verb 2 + Object 2

Examples:

• 他买了一本书，还买了一支笔。
  (He bought a book and also bought a pen.)

• 她除了学中文，还学法语。
  (Besides learning Chinese, she also learns French.)

Usage Notes:

• Often signals continuation or an additional action.

• Can imply “and more” or “not done yet.”

• Be cautious: “还” does not always equal “also”; sometimes it only means “still” (e.g., 还没吃).

亦 (yì): The Formal and Literary “Also”

亦 is a formal or literary synonym of “也.” It is rarely used in spoken Mandarin but can appear in classical texts, formal writing, or poetic language.

Examples:

• 君亦如此。
  (You are also like this.)

• 天亦有情。
  (Even heaven has feelings.)

Usage Notes:

• Avoid using “亦” in casual conversation.

• Recognizing it in reading, especially literature or official texts, is important for advanced learners.

By understanding how these three words function in different grammatical and situational contexts, you'll be able to express "also" in a way that fits both the meaning and tone you intend.

III. Practice with “Also” in Context

Understanding how to use “also” in theory is one thing—being able to use it naturally in conversation is another. In this section, you'll explore practical sentence examples and dialogues using 也 (yě), 还 (hái), and 亦 (yì) at beginner to intermediate levels.

These examples are structured to mirror real-life situations and language proficiency stages so learners can build both confidence and fluency.

Basic Sentences Using “Also” (HSK 1–2)

At the beginner level, 也 (yě) is commonly introduced early on. These sentences follow a simple subject–也–verb pattern.

Examples:

• 我是学生，他也是学生。
  (I am a student. He is also a student.)

• 她喜欢看书，我也喜欢。
  (She likes reading. I like it too.)

• 我会说中文，也会说一点英文。
  (I can speak Chinese, and also a little English.)

Focus:

• Subject comparison

• Parallel sentence structure

• Building rhythm with repetitive patterns

Intermediate Sentences Using "Also" and "Still" (HSK 3–4)

At this level, learners begin to distinguish between 也 and 还. Sentence structures become more diverse, with additional emphasis on word order and subtle context shifts.

Examples with 也 (yě):

• 他昨天很忙，今天也很忙。
  (He was busy yesterday, and he's also busy today.)

• 除了她，其他同学也参加了比赛。
  (Besides her, other classmates also joined the competition.)

Examples with 还 (hái):

• 我买了一杯咖啡，还买了一些点心。
  (I bought a cup of coffee and also some snacks.)

• 他已经会弹钢琴了，还会弹吉他。
  (He already plays the piano and also plays the guitar.)

Focus:

• Logical flow between actions

• Inclusion of sequencing words: 除了, 已经

• Fine-tuning tone and meaning

Dialogues for Practice: Using Also and Still in Real-life Conversation

Beginner Dialogue:

A: 你是老师吗？
B: 是的。我也是学生。
A: 你教中文吗？
B: 对。我也教英文。

(A: Are you a teacher?
B: Yes. I’m also a student.
A: Do you teach Chinese?
B: Right. I also teach English.)

Intermediate Dialogue:

A: 你去了日本吗？
B: 去了，还去了韩国。
A: 哇，你的旅行计划很丰富！
B: 是啊，我也打算明年去欧洲。

(A: Did you go to Japan?
B: Yes, and I also went to South Korea.
A: Wow, your travel plan is full!
B: Yeah, I also plan to go to Europe next year.)

Focus:

• Repeating structure with intentional word placement

• Highlighting subtle differences between “也” and “还” in action vs. subject

• Reinforcing memory through turn-based conversation

By practicing with real-world examples, you’ll deepen your understanding of what “also” means in Chinese and how to express it naturally, across multiple tones, topics, and situations.

Above is the full article by PREP on how to understand and use “also” in Chinese through three key words: 也, 还, and 亦. We hope this guide gives you more confidence not only in recognizing their differences, but also in applying them naturally in both grammar and conversation. Keep exploring with PREP to strengthen your Chinese, step by step.