Navigation
Grammar Levels
HSK 1
27 points
HSK 2
49 points
HSK 3
92 points
HSK 4
99 points
HSK 5
45 points
Resources
Expressing "had better" with 还是 (háishi) as an adverb
HSK 3Suggestion & Advice
Structure
Subject + 还是 + Verb Phrase
Explanation
还是 (háishi) as an adverb conveys the suggestion "had better" or "it's best to," recommending a particular course of action. It implies the speaker has weighed the options and believes this choice is the wisest.
Examples
你身体不舒服，还是去看医生吧。
Nǐ shēntǐ bù shūfu, háishì qù kàn yīshēng ba.
You're not feeling well—you'd better go see a doctor.
路这么远，还是坐地铁去吧。
Lù zhème yuǎn, háishì zuò dìtiě qù ba.
The road is so far—you'd better take the subway.
雨越下越大，还是等一会儿再走吧。
Yǔ yuè xià yuè dà, háishì děng yíhuìr zài zǒu ba.
The rain is getting heavier—we'd better wait a while before leaving.