HSK 7-9
尚
shàng
Still; yet (literary)
Structure
Subject + 尚 + Verb/Adjective (+ 呢)
How it works
The character 尚 (shàng) is a formal, literary adverb used to indicate that a state or action is still ongoing or has not yet occurred. It is often synonymous with the modern '还在' (hái zài) or '甚至' (shèn zhì) depending on the context, and it frequently appears in written Chinese, classical idioms, or news reports.
Examples
该项技术的应用尚处于起步阶段。
Gāi xiàng jìshù de yìngyòng shàng chǔyú qǐbù jiēduàn.
The application of this technology is still in its infancy.
此事的结果尚不可知。
Cǐ shì de jiéguǒ shàng bù kě zhī.
The outcome of this matter is still unknown.
大人尚且如此，更何况是孩子呢？
Dàrén shàngqiě rúcǐ, gèng hékuàng shì háizi ne?
If even adults are like this, let alone children.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '尚' with '上' (up/above) or use it too frequently in casual, spoken conversation, as it sounds overly formal and stiff.
Tip
When you encounter '尚未' (shàng wèi), translate it as 'not yet.' It is one of the most common high-level academic phrases for describing unfinished tasks or unconfirmed results.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 尚 in real Chinese
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