One word, one everyday story
Culture · Create free account · Log in · Feedback
Teaching entries and general reference records are shown separately. Independent language review of teaching entries is pending.
还
huán
Original teaching content · provenance and version
Example recordings passed technical checks; use the rating controls to flag pronunciation quality.
Mandarin pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Previously approved by project reviewer
- pinyin
- huán
- simplified
- 还
- traditional
- 還
1 · verb
To give back an item that was borrowed or taken.
把借来或拿走的东西交回去。
Here huán means to give something back. The reading hái has other meanings, such as still or also.
I will return your umbrella tomorrow.
English pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)
Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.
我明天把伞还给你。
Share this public expressionMandarin pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)
Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.
Have you returned the library books?
English pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)
Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.
图书馆的书，你还了吗？
Share this public expressionMandarin pronunciation · Device-generated pronunciation (depends on browser and system voices)
Your current device will speak after you click; voices can differ by device.
Connect this word to your life
Simplified 还 corresponds to traditional 還. This sense uses the second tone.
Imagine a different situation where you might use this word. It may be fictional, and you may skip this step.
2 · verb
To give back something that was borrowed or taken.
把借来或拿走的东西交回给原来的人或地方。
Use huán when giving an item back, as in 还给某人. This sense of return concerns an item, not a person's journey back.
Please give these scissors back to me when you're done using them.
English pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Previously approved by project reviewer
这把剪刀用完以后，请还给我。
Share this public expressionMandarin pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Previously approved by project reviewer
I washed the borrowed cup and gave it back to my neighbor.
English pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Candidate — listening review pending
我把借来的杯子洗干净后还给了邻居。
Share this public expressionMandarin pronunciation · Synthesized MP3 · Previously approved by project reviewer
Connect this word to your life
Mandarin reading: huán.
Try using this word in a sentence about your life; you may skip this.
Related senses in the other language
These links apply to the listed senses, not every use of each word.
return — To give an item back to the person or place it came from.