尚: Formal Still or Not Yet in Chinese
尚
尚 is a formal adverb meaning ‘still’ or ‘yet,’ especially in 尚未, 尚无, and 尚需. It appears before the negative, existential, or necessity expression and presents a situation as remaining unresolved at the reference time. It is not the directional noun 上 and cannot be placed after the predicate.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需 + Predicate or Noun
Read the structure
尚 is a formal adverb meaning ‘still’ or ‘yet,’ especially in 尚未, 尚无, and 尚需. It appears before the negative, existential, or necessity expression and presents a situation as remaining unresolved at the reference time. It is not the directional noun 上 and cannot be placed after the predicate. Keep the model Subject + 尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需 + Predicate or Noun visible while you compare each sentence.
这个调查尚无进展。
This investigation still has no progress.
Choose the right context
Report formally that something has not happened yet with 尚未. State that something remains unavailable with 尚无. State a remaining requirement with 尚需.
申请结果尚未公布。
The application result has not yet been announced.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse 尚未 to 未尚. Do not place 尚 after the predicate. Do not use 尚 alone as a completed answer meaning not yet.
申请结果未尚公布。
(The application result not-yet still announced.)
Repair the pattern
The fixed sequence 尚未 is reversed: The formal ‘not yet’ sequence is 尚未, with 尚 before the negator 未. 尚 is placed after the predicate: 尚 modifies the following necessity phrase 尚需 and cannot trail the predicate.
申请结果尚未公布。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这个调查尚无进展。
This investigation still has no progress.
这个
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
调查
尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需
This part occupies the 尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需 position in the model pattern.
尚
Predicate or Noun
This part occupies the Predicate or Noun position in the model pattern.
无
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
进展
尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需
This part occupies the 尚未 / 尚无 / 尚需 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这个调查尚无进展。
This investigation still has no progress.
申请结果尚未公布。
The application result has not yet been announced.
这个问题尚需进一步研究。
This issue still requires further study.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Report formally that something has not happened yet with 尚未.
- State that something remains unavailable with 尚无.
- State a remaining requirement with 尚需.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse 尚未 to 未尚.
- Do not place 尚 after the predicate.
- Do not use 尚 alone as a completed answer meaning not yet.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
申请结果未尚公布。
申请结果尚未公布。
The fixed sequence 尚未 is reversed
The formal ‘not yet’ sequence is 尚未, with 尚 before the negator 未.
这个问题需进一步研究尚。
这个问题尚需进一步研究。
尚 is placed after the predicate
尚 modifies the following necessity phrase 尚需 and cannot trail the predicate.
申请结果未尚公布。
The formal ‘not yet’ sequence is 尚未, with 尚 before the negator 未.
这个问题需进一步研究尚。
尚 modifies the following necessity phrase 尚需 and cannot trail the predicate.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 尚.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 尚. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
尚: Formal Still or Not Yet Questions
What are common combinations with 尚?
尚未, 尚无, and 尚需 are common in formal reports and notices.
How is 尚未 different from 还没?
Their core meaning overlaps, but 尚未 is more formal and written.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, combined Levels 7–9 item 【七—九018】, 时间副词：尚 (printed p. 238)
Supports placement in the official combined Levels 7-9 band; the exact site level remains an internal difficulty label; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 37, §37.3, ‘not yet’ negation; Chapter 15, adverbs before negation and predicates
Supports the preverbal order for a formal ‘still/not yet’ adverb and its scope over negation or necessity.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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