Question

Updated on 30 Nov 2022

30 Nov 2022

Japanese

English (US)

Question about English (US)

What is the difference between Hope this cat is still alive. and Hope this cat is still around. ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

Answers

jssberry

30 Nov 2022

English (US)

Still alive = not dead
Still around = still here

wildlife_lover

30 Nov 2022

English (US)

Only occasionally does “still around” mean “still alive”. It is better to just use the translations that jssberry provided though.

A case where still around = still alive:

“Oh, I remember learning about that guy when I was in elementary school. I wonder if he is still around?”

chokokuro

30 Nov 2022

Japanese

Thank you! this person said “ I wonder if it’s still around.” after watching a kitten video posted 12 years ago.

I wondered why he didn’t say “ I wonder if it’s still alive.” Is there any difference in nuance?

wildlife_lover

30 Nov 2022

English (US)

In that case, you are right in thinking that it means “I wonder if it’s still alive”. People may say “still around” because it is usually more sensitive.

It’s similar to how people may say “he passed away” rather than “he died” if you are familiar with that phrase.

chokokuro

30 Nov 2022

Japanese

@wildlife_lover Oh now I’m convinced! Thank you 🙏

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What is the difference between Hope this cat is still alive. and Hope this cat is still around. ?

What is the difference between Hope this cat is still alive. and Hope this cat is still around. ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

Still alive = not deadStill around = still here

Only occasionally does “still around” mean “still alive”. It is better to just use the translations that jssberry provided though. A case where still around = still alive:“Oh, I remember learning about that guy when I was in elementary school. I wonder if he is still around?”

In that case, you are right in thinking that it means “I wonder if it’s still alive”. People may say “still around” because it is usually more sensitive. It’s similar to how people may say “he passed away” rather than “he died” if you are familiar with that phrase.

Still alive = not dead
Still around = still here

Only occasionally does “still around” mean “still alive”. It is better to just use the translations that jssberry provided though.

A case where still around = still alive:

“Oh, I remember learning about that guy when I was in elementary school. I wonder if he is still around?”

In that case, you are right in thinking that it means “I wonder if it’s still alive”. People may say “still around” because it is usually more sensitive.

It’s similar to how people may say “he passed away” rather than “he died” if you are familiar with that phrase.