Usage note
依然表示情况没有改变，和以前一样。比如，他依然每天早起。
Yīrán biǎoshì qíngkuàng méiyǒu gǎibiàn, hé yǐqián yīyàng. Bǐrú, tā yīrán měitiān zǎo qǐ.
Still indicates that the situation hasn't changed, same as before. For example, he still gets up early every day.
Context note
虽然下雨了，但同学们依然坚持去上学。
Suīrán xià yǔ le, dàn tóngxuémen yīrán jiānchí qù shàngxué.
Although it rained, the students still insisted on going to school.
5 examples
他依然是我的好朋友。
tā yī rán shì wǒ de hǎo péng yǒu。
He is still my good friend.
春天来了，天气依然很冷。
chūn tiān lái le， tiān qì yī rán hěn lěng。
Spring has come, the weather is still very cold.
她依然喜欢画画。
tā yī rán xǐ huan huà huà。
She still likes to draw.
虽然很难，他依然努力。
suī rán hěn nán， tā yī rán nǔ lì。
Although it's difficult, he still works hard.
我依然记得那个故事。
wǒ yī rán jì de nà ge gù shì。
I still remember that story.
5 mini stories
小明搬家了，但他依然和我们联系。
xiǎo míng bān jiā le， dàn tā yī rán hé wǒ men lián xì。
Xiao Ming moved, but he still keeps in touch with us.
虽然失败了，他依然不放弃。
suī rán shī bài le， tā yī rán bú fàng qì。
Although he failed, he still doesn't give up.
这朵花依然开得很美。
zhè duǒ huā yī rán kāi dé hěn měi。
This flower is still blooming beautifully.
多年后，他们依然是好朋友。
duō nián hòu， tā men yī rán shì hǎo péng yǒu。
Years later, they are still good friends.
他依然每天练习钢琴。
tā yī rán měi tiān liàn xí gāng qín。
He still practices the piano every day.
Mini dialogue
依然下雨
A
雨停了吗？
Yǔ tíng le ma?
Has the rain stopped?
B
没有，依然在下雨。
Méiyǒu, yīrán zài xià yǔ.
No, it's still raining.
依然喜欢
A
你还喜欢画画吗？
Nǐ hái xǐhuān huà huà ma?
Do you still like drawing?
B
是的，我依然很喜欢。
Shì de, wǒ yīrán hěn xǐhuān.
Yes, I still like it very much.
Related words and contrasts
similar
仍然
réng rán
still
依然 and 仍然 both mean 'still' or 'as before'.
similar
依旧
yī jiù
as before
依旧 is a near-synonym of 依然.
opposite
改变
gǎi biàn
change
依然 implies no change, opposite of 改变.